SU Department of Biology - Shippensburg University

Summer 2010
Volume 1, Issue 1
Editors:
Dr. Bumbaugh
and Dr. Stewart
Inside this issue:
Faculty Members
4
Retired Faculty
10
Student Presentations 12
Graduate Students
14
Research
15
Internships
17
Alumni
20
Special Features
News from the
Department Chair —
Dr. Tim Maret
Faculty Emeritus —
Dr. Larry Klotz
Research Focus
Internship Focus
Alumni Profile — Dr.
Nikki Gudleski
SU Department of Biology
The Department of Biology
at Shippensburg University
is growing. Over the past
few years, we have welcomed several new faculty
members to the department and have seen an
increase in the number of
undergraduate biology majors. We still continue to
offer our students the option to develop their studies in various tracks which
can facilitate the transition
to advanced degrees, professional programs, or
specialized employment.
Biology Enrollment
Biology (BS)
Fall
2009
83
Biotechnology
18
Ecology & Environmental Biology
24
Health Professions
160
Health Science (TJU affiliation)
24
Medical Technology
10
Biology/Secondary Ed. Certification
32
Biology (MS)
26
Total
378
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 2
News from the Department Chair
Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Shippensburg University Department of Biology Newsletter. We are excited about the prospect of using this newsletter to keep in touch with our
alumni and plan to produce an issue every summer. I hope that you enjoy reading about what
is happening here at Ship.
If you’ve been gone from SU for a few years (or more), you will notice that there have been
numerous changes. Although Franklin Science Center looks relatively the same, the Biology
Department has changed considerably. As you peruse the faculty profiles, you’ll see that
some familiar faces are missing and that some new faces are present. Our most recent retirement was Dr. Larry Klotz, who is profiled in our newsletter. Having been out in the field several times with Larry, I can attest that he is one of the best botanists in Pennsylvania. Recent
hires include Drs. Alyssa Bumbaugh and Nathan Thomas, who began working here in Fall
2008, and Dr. Heather Sahli, who began in 2009. Alyssa teaches Genetics and Principles of
Biology II; Nathan teaches Animal Physiology, Ornithology, and Principles of Biology I; and
Heather teaches Field Botany and Plant Taxonomy, and Principles of Biology I. You can read
their faculty profiles to find out more about them. In addition, our student body is changing
as well – we have experienced considerable growth in recent years and enrollment this fall is
predicted to hit a new high.
One of the most exciting trends here at Ship is the steady increase in the number of Biology
students conducting research and doing internships. Several student research and internship
experiences are highlighted in this newsletter. Student grants from the SU Undergraduate Research Program, with funding from the SU Foundation, offer the opportunity for students to
gain grant writing experience and provide financial support for research supplies and travel.
In 2009-2010, 20 different undergraduate research grants were awarded to 37 Biology students, who presented their findings in the spring at the first annual SU Celebration of Student
Research Conference. Many of these students also went on to present their results at state
and regional meetings. This level of student involvement in research is unique, and is one
more way in which Ship stands above the crowd. The experience and knowledge gained from
research and internships is invaluable, and complements the education our students receive
in the classroom.
We’d really like to hear from you. Please take just a few minutes to complete the online survey described later in the newsletter. Without feedback from our alumni, we don’t know how
we are doing or what should be changed to ensure the success of our current and future students. The information that you provide us is extremely valuable in guiding future changes
and decisions within the department. In addition, please let us know what you are up to. In
our next newsletter, we’d like to include a lot more information on our alumni. Stay in touch,
and enjoy what’s left of the summer!
Tim Maret, Professor and Chair
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 3
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 4
The Biology Department is currently home to 17 tenured and tenure-track faculty members. On the next few pages
you will find mini-biographies to acquaint (or re-acquaint) you with each faculty member and our department secretary.
Marcie Baer-Lehman
I joined the Biology Department in the fall of 2000. I earned my PhD in Microbiology from University of Maryland, Baltimore in 1998, and during that
time taught a sophomore level microbiology course at Loyola College in Maryland. After completing my PhD, I then spent 1 1/2 years as a postdoctoral
researcher at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I currently
teach microbiology and pathogenic microbiology as well as a variety of graduate level courses related to some aspect of microbiology. My research currently combines standard microbiological isolation/identification techniques
with molecular techniques for studying a variety of environmental and infectious pathogens. I have several students involved in a project studying vector
-borne diseases associated with wildlife common to the central PA region as
well as another group of students involved in studying microbial resistance to
standard methods used to control disease on various fruit crops common to
PA.
Sherri Bergsten
I have been a member of the Biology Department since fall 2005. I have a
BS in Biology from Haverford College and a PhD in Molecular Biology from
Princeton University. My doctoral research centered around genetic regulation of early development in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. I am currently working with Shippensburg undergraduates to better understand the
roles of specific genes and environmental factors in pheromone detection and
mating behavior in Drosophila. Some students in my lab have generated
transgenic flies with altered expression of a predicted pheromone binding
protein. Another current project is underway to evaluate the impact of alcohol on different sensory systems important in mating behavior. I teach a
range of classes including Basic Biology, Principles of Biology II, Genetics,
and Developmental Biology, as well as graduate courses in Genetics and Development.
Alyssa Bumbaugh
I recently joined the Biology Department in the fall of 2008. I earned my
PhD in Genetics from Michigan State University and completed postdoctoral
training at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. Before arriving at Shippensburg University, I taught microbiology and
genetics for four years at Penn State Altoona. At Ship, I teach Genetics in
the fall semesters and Principles of Biology II in the spring semesters. I also
teach Basic Biology, a general education course for non-majors. My research
combines the disciplines of microbiology and genetics as much of my work
focuses on studying the evolutionary relationships of pathogenic bacterial
isolates. I have several students involved in my current research projects.
We are studying virulence gene acquisition and transmission pathways in invasive Escherichia coli. Another project involves investigating the molecular
differences between strains of the plant pathogen, Erwinia tracheiphila.
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 5
Pablo Delis
I joined the Biology Department in 2002 coming from the University of South
Florida in Tampa, Florida. I am originally from Spain, where I got my BS in
Biology, with the specialization in Chordates, from the University of Sevilla. At the University of South Florida, I earned my doctoral degree with a
dissertation on the rarity/commonness and life history traits of two southeastern US treefrogs. At Shippensburg University, I fill the role of Vertebrate
Zoologist, but I actually teach a very diverse array of classes including Introduction to Ecology, Problems of the Environment, Principles of Biology I, Herpetology Seminars, Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates, Biota of Florida,
Vertebrate Zoology, Herpetology, Field Research Techniques, and the graduate course Ecomorphology. Currently, I maintain active research on the areas of morphology, demographics, activity patterns, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles in Letterkenny Army Depot. Specifically, I have long
term research projects on frog assemblages, box turtles, and the snake community at this site.
Cindy Elliott
I joined the Department in 1998 after spending over 25 years in cancer/
immunobiology research in the College of Medicine at the University of Kentucky, where I also earned my Ph.D. I also taught immunology for 7 years
to undergraduate students at UK. Together with Dr. William Patrie, I was
instrumental in organizing the Biotechnology / Pre-Forensic Science Program
at Shippensburg University and associated internship opportunities at the
Cumberland County Forensic Lab and the United States Army Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). I currently teach several courses
at Ship including: Cell Biology, Immunology, Techniques in Biotechnology,
Techniques in Forensics, and Virology as well as Human Biology for general
education. After completing a sabbatical at USAMRIID in 2005, I refocused
my research interest on the role of autophagy in growth and death of cancer
cells. Students who work in my lab use molecular techniques to clone and
sequence autophagy related genes in a malignant brain tumor cell line.
Todd Hurd
I was hired as an Ecosystem Ecologist at Shippensburg in 2000 and have
taught primarily Principles of Biology I, Problems of the Environment, Ecology, Wetland Ecology, Plant Ecology, and Ecosystems Ecology, and a graduate
seminar. For my doctoral work at SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry,
I studied wetland nutrient cycling, especially biological nitrogen fixation, and
hydrology. My M.S. was from University of Maine in Plant-nutrient interactions, and my undergraduate degree was in Environmental and Forest Biology
at SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, with my first two years spent
at SUNY Geneseo near my home town of Castile, NY (Genesee River Watershed). My work with Shippensburg students has included study of nitrogen
fixation in black locust trees, and tracing of source waters and contaminants
to carbonate springs and streams with stable isotope and fluorescence methods. I am also presently the graduate coordinator for the department.
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Theo Light
I joined the Biology Department in fall 2004. I earned my PhD in Ecology
from the University of California, Davis, where I worked on the effects of a
crayfish invasion in Sierra Nevada streams and also on large-scale fish invasion patterns in California. Prior to coming to Shippensburg, I completed
postdoctoral work at UC Davis (also in invasion biology) and taught Environmental Science at Sacramento State University for a year. At Shippensburg, I
teach Principles of Biology I, Introduction to Ecology, Aquatic Ecology, Biometry, and Invertebrate Zoology. I supervise undergraduate and graduate research focused on crayfish and fish ecology and the patterns and effects of
invasions in aquatic systems.
Dave Long
I earned my graduate degrees in Zoology at Texas Tech University (MS,
1983; PhD, 1986), and then taught five years at Wilkes University. I was
hired by Shippensburg University in the fall of 1991 as a Biologist to teach
Zoology and to serve as the chief pre-health science advisor. We no longer
teach Zoology (it was merged with Botany to form the Principles of Biology I
course), but I continue to enjoy advising students with regard to preparation
for entry into health professional education. I’m pleased to say we average
31 students per year who enter some type of health professional program,
and the majority of those students have told me in later years that they
found themselves better prepared than their peers who graduated from other
undergraduate institutions. I feel our success as educators is measured by
the success of our past students and, in this regard, I have felt well rewarded
during my 19 years at Shippensburg. My current teaching involves primarily
Human Anatomy (fall) and Histology (spring) with occasional offerings of special topics courses such as Human Disease and Developmental Anatomy. My
fascination with biology began at a young age when I kept turtles, frogs and
salamanders and, after all these years, I still maintain a small menagerie of
herpetofauna. Though most of my non-class time is spent doing health science advisement, any research I do with students seems to always involve
some aspect of the anatomy or reproductive biology of amphibians and reptiles.
Tim Maret
I joined the Biology Department in 1996 after earning a Ph.D. in Zoology at
Arizona State University. Prior to that, I taught junior and senior high school
science in New Mexico, including two years teaching on the Navajo Reservation. I currently teach Ecology, Principles of Evolution, and Conservation Biology. My research is in the areas of population and community ecology and
focuses primarily on organisms that inhabit vernal ponds. Over the last few
years I have also developed a strong interest in the conservation biology of
amphibians and reptiles (particularly turtles). Although my duties as department chair keep me busy, whenever I have the opportunity I try to get outside and do research with students. Students are presently working with me
on projects to survey local amphibians for the presence of the chytrid fungus
(a nasty pathogen that is killing amphibians worldwide) and to examine the
effects of hypoxia (low oxygen levels) on the interactions between vernal
pond amphibians and their predators.
Page 6
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 7
Mike Marshall
I joined the Biology department in 1988. Before coming to Shippensburg University, I earned my undergraduate degree at Kutztown University, an MS at
West Virginia University, and PhD at the University of Nebraska in plant pathology. I currently teach Basic Biology, Principles of Biology II, and Medical
Botany. My research is in the area of plant fungal diseases and I am currently
working with Chestnut Blight.
I joined the Biology department in 1987. Before coming to Shippensburg University, I earned my undergraduate degree at York College, a MS degree at
the University of South Carolina, and a PhD at Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University. I currently teach Human Physiology and Endocrinology
and mentor students conducting physiological research.
Mike McNichols
Earl Nollenberger
I joined the Biology department in 1973. My BA and MS degrees were earned
at Shippensburg University and my DEd was completed at the Pennsylvania
State University. I currently teach Human Biology and Basic Biology. My research investigates the natural history of several local invertebrates on a
nearby 5 acre study site and I also work on a vision comparison study using
local public participants.
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Bill Patrie
I joined the Biology department in 1993. Before coming to Shippensburg
University, I taught biochemistry and molecular techniques at SUNYBinghamton. I earned my PhD in Biochemistry at Cornell, where I studied
the structure and function of the ATP synthase of chloroplasts. I earned my
BA in chemistry at Hope College, where I also enjoyed doing research as an
undergraduate student. I teach Principles of Biology II, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Techniques in Biotechnology, and Basic Biology. I have diverse
research interests that apply a variety of molecular techniques. A current
focus is the analysis of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in a brain
tumor cell line. Another student has developed his own project, determining
some of the molecular characteristics associated with a mite-transmitted disease in roses.
Greg Paulson
I joined the faculty of SU in 1994. Prior to that, I was a biology instructor at
Washington State University, where I had earned my PhD (Entomology) in
1990. I am an entomologist with research interests in applied ecology. My
research background is diverse and focuses on development of non-chemical
methods of insect control. I have studied medical, agricultural, and urban
pests. I am also very interested in insect morphology and the biology of
ants, especially the Allegheny mound ant. Most recently I have focused on
ant mound architecture and it’s effect on abiotic parameters inside the
mound. My interest in morphology requires intensive use of our Scanning
Electron Microscope. SEM images produced by my students and I have won
regional, national and international awards. I teach Principles of Biology I,
Animal Behavior, Problems of the Environment, Basic Biology, Biomicroscopy
and Imaging, Entomology, Field Research Techniques, and Aquatic Entomology.
Heather Sahli
I recently joined the department in Fall 2009 as the new botanist since Larry
Klotz retired. I earned my Ph.D. in Plant Biology and Ecology, Evolution, and
Behavior at Michigan State University where I studied floral adaptation of
plants to different pollinator species, and also examined how widespread
weeds evolve and adapt to new environmental conditions. After Michigan, I
spent three years in Hawaii where I was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hawaii-Manoa and University of Hawaii-Hilo. In Hawaii I studied
plant-pollinator interactions across a variety of native Hawaiian ecosystems.
Since arriving at Shippensburg I have taught Field Botany/Plant Taxonomy
and the non-majors courses, Introduction to Ecology, Problems of the Environment, and Basic Biology. I will also be teaching a General Botany course
and Principles of Biology I in the future. I currently have students quantifying
pollen carried by different insect flower visitors to determine how many pollen
grains different pollinators carry, and how generalized and specialized the
plant and pollinator species are in a community.
Page 8
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 9
J.R. Stewart
I joined the department in 2002 coming from Malone University in Canton,
OH where I taught from 1998-2002. I earned my Ph.D. from The Ohio State
University in Entomology where I worked on off-host physiology and ecology
of three host ticks that feed primarily on mammals. I also obtained a teaching certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Education when I earned
my BS at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. At Shippensburg University, I
advise teacher trainees and teach the Environmental Education Practicum as
well as supervise student teachers. Other courses I teach include Field Biology and Mammalogy (fall semesters) and Field Zoology and Parasitology
(spring semesters). I also teach, or co-teach, Problems of the Environment
and Aquatic Entomology. I supervise student research primarily focused on
mammals and the parasites that infect/infest them; however, I also supervise education based research and research in other entomological areas
I joined the department in the fall of 2008. I earned my Ph.D. in physiological ecology from the University of South Dakota working on stopover migration of shorebirds. Prior to my arrival at Ship I taught laboratory sections of
biology and ornithology. At Shippensburg, I teach Animal Physiology and
Principles of Biology I during the fall semesters and Problems of the Environment, Ornithology, and Comparative Environmental Physiology during the
spring semesters. I have also taught Graduate Ornithology and Basic Biology. My research interests pull together the fields of physiology, ecology and
animal behavior with a strong bias toward ornithology, which has led me to
supervise student research that focuses primarily on physiological ecology.
.
Nathan Thomas
Joan Carson
I joined the Biology department in June of 2007 after spending 2 years at the
John L. Grove College of Business working with students in the Masters in
Business Administration program and the College of Business internship program. Prior to coming to Shippensburg University, I worked at Scotland
School for Veteran’s Children for a number of years in the Human Resource
Office.
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 10
Retired Faculty Members
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Elaine Anderson (June 2003)
Richard Barr (December 1991)
Jay Davidson (January 1996)
Herbert Hays, Jr. (August 1988)
Frederick Howard (August 2001)
W. Russell Kelley (December 1971)
Larry Klotz (January 2009)
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Leon Kreger, Jr. (July 1985)
William Morrison (May 2002)
William Peightel (May 1991)
Ruthanne Pitkin (August 2006)
William Rogers (May 1998)
Richard Wahl (January 1995)
Emeritus Profile
Dr. Larry Klotz
Ph.D. Cornell University
When Larry joined the Biology Faculty in fall semester of
1978, one of his main teaching assignments was Botany
(BIO 120), a required course for all Biology majors. Larry
soon developed two upper-level botany courses that he
continued teaching throughout his teaching career, ―Field
Botany and Plant Taxonomy‖ and ―Algae and Aquatic
Plants‖. In 1987 he assisted Dr. Earl Nollenberger in developing the ―Biota of Florida‖ Biology seminar course,
which includes a week-long field trip to Florida over Spring
Break. He co-taught this course a total of ten times, the last three with Dr. Pablo Delis. His
areas of research and publication have included floristic inventories of Wallops Island and
Wallops Research Park, Virginia, funded by NASA through the Marine Science Consortium;
studies of the vegetation of seasonal ponds along South Mountain in south-central Pennsylvania; and morphological studies of shooting stars (a Pennsylvania wildflower) with Dr. Carol
Loeffler of Dickinson College. Since the late 1980’s he has done botanical field surveys of
rare plant populations and natural vegetation for the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program,
the National Park Service, and many private environmental consulting firms.
One of Larry’s main departmental committee assignments has been the development and
supervision of the living plant collection in the Shippensburg University Greenhouse, including the annual Plant Sale, a fundraiser for the Biology Support fund. He has been the Chair
of the Northeastern Section of the Botanical Society of America in several different years, a
member of the Vascular Plant Technical Committee of the Pennsylvania Biological Survey
since 1993, a volunteer for monitoring rare plant populations along the Appalachian Trail in
Pennsylvania since 2002, and a field trip leader of the annual Great Smoky Mountain Wildflower Pilgrimage since 1982 as well as for local botanical clubs in Pennsylvania.
Since his retirement in January 2009, Larry is continuing most of these activities except, of
course, the formal teaching responsibilities. He is grateful to Shippensburg University for allowing him to retain his association with the Biology Department in Franklin Science Center
since it greatly facilitates his continuing professional life as a botanist.
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 11
SU Biology Faculty Accomplishments
Congratulations to Dr. Sherri Bergsten on her tenure and promotion to Associate
Professor!
2010 Beta Beta Beta Inductees
2009-2010 SU Biology Awards
CPUB Outstanding Biology Student Award
Emily Swartz
Biology Support Fund—Biology Department Award for Excellence
Corey Hicks (Biology)
Rachael Kells (Biotechnology)
Haley Wyant (Ecology & Environmental Biology)
Jillian Zeigler (Health Professions)
Andrew Blass (Secondary Education)
Class of 1920 Awards in the Sciences
Jillian Zeigler (Biology)
Rose Coons (Medical Technology)
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Holly Hunt
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 12
SU Biology Student Presentations
86th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science
(Camp Hill, April 9-11, 2010)
Do Invasive Rusty Crayfish Increase Predation on Tessellated Darter by
Largemouth Bass? Eric Snyder and Theo Light.
Demographics and Morphometric Characteristics of Breeding Cope’s Grey
Tree Frog (Hyla chrysoscelis) at Wallops Island, Virginia, USA. Dustin L.
Lowry and Pablo R. Delis.
Evaluation of an Allegheny Woodrat (Neotoma magister) Populaiton Pre
– and Post– Construction in the North Block of the Tuscarora State
Forest, South-Central Pennsylvania. Craig Kindlin and Richard S.
Stewart.
Expression, Cloning and Sequencing of the Autophage Related Genes
ATG7 in SNB-19 Brain Tumor Cells. Jonathan Gorski, Justin Rodrigo, and Lucinda
H. Elliott.
Expression, Cloning and Sequencing of the Autophage Related Genes ATG13 in SNB-19
Brain Tumor Cells. Emily Swartz, Joseph Thomas, and Lucinda H.
Elliott.
Role of ATG5 on Kinetics of Expression of Autophage Related Genes in
Adherent Glioma Cells. Ashley Martin, Nitasha Kaur, and L. H. Elliott.
The Detection of Serine-Protease Autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae
(SPATEs) Within the Phylogenetic Framework of the Invasive Escherichia coli. Darin
Longenecker, Kimberly Simmons, and Alyssa C. Bumbaugh.
The Investigation of Repetitive Element Genome Profiling to Differentiate
Between Isolates of the Plant Pathogen Erwinia tracheiphila. Oumou Belemou, Katy Ryan, and Alyssa C. Bumbaugh.
Impact of Impaired Pheromone Detection on Courtship Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. Brielle Dalious, Kristin Bowman, Magen Hutson, Dale Haupt and Sherri Bergsten.
Fish Diversity in Salt March Tidal Pools at Wallops Island, Virginia, USA.
Bob Koroncai and Pablo R. Delis.
Importance of Terrestrial Invertebrate Inputs in the Diet
of Applachian Brook Crayfish Cambarus bartonii. A.
Helfrick, S. Chervenyak, and T. Light.
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 13
SU Biology Student Presentations
41st Annual Meeting of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University
Biologists (Lock Haven, April 17-18, 2010)
Expression, cloning and sequencing of the autophagy related gene
Atg13 in SNB-19 brain tumor cells. Swartz, E., J. Thomas, and L. H.
Elliott.
Microclimate properties of Pileated Woodpecker cavities in south-central Pennsylvania during winter.
Bennett, S. and N. E. Thomas.
Surveillance for the causative agents of Lyme disease, Babesiosis, and
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in ticks collected in south-central Pennsylvania. Wysocki, J. A., K. D. Motter, K. Oberholzer, M. L. Lehman,
and R. L. Stewart.
SU Biology Student Internship Placements
Chambersburg Dental Associates
Cornell University
Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office, Forensic Laboratory
Department of Biochemistry, Pennsylvania State University
College of Medicine
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
PA Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
PA Department of Agriculture
PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA
DNCR)
PA Department of Environmental Protection
PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Fort Indiantown Gap
PA Fish and Boat Commission
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease (USAMRIID)
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
USDA Department of Plant Industry
USDA Forest Service Northerneast Research Station
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 14
Spring 2010 SU Biology Master’s Program Graduates
Congratulations to our most recent Master’s degree recipients.
a thesis.
*
indicates completion of
Justin Adkins*
Misty Gruver
Holly Hunt*
Christopher Ilgenfritz
Jenessa Martin
Keith Redding
David Zapotok*
Graduate Student Spotlight
The Biology Department offers an MS degree in Biology. Some of our graduate students serve as graduate assistants to help with the preparation of undergraduate labs and filed courses. Below are the
mini-biographies of two of our current graduate assistants.
Layne Strickler
I began the Master’s program in the fall of 2009 and will be completing it in the
Spring of 2011. In 2008 I received my Bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg University. Shippensburg is also my home town. Botany and plant ecology are my main
interest in biology, but I also enjoy microbiology and mycology. Currently I hold a
graduate assistant position for Principles of Biology I. This includes setting up laboratories, tutoring, and grading. This fall I will be beginning my thesis research in which
I will be comparing soil microbial communities that exist in the rhizosphere of a native
tree species (Robinia pseudoacacia) and an exotic invasive tree species (Ailanthus
altissima). In the past I have completed research on morphology of eastern redspotted newts and another project on plant diversity in Big Spring Creek. Throughout
my college career I have had several different jobs/internships; Plum Pox Survey with
USDA: APHIS (2005,2006), Emerald Ash Borer Survey with PA Dept. of Agriculture
(2008), and field botanist with the USDA: Forest Service (2007, 2010).
Joe Wisgo
I received my BS in biology from Susquehanna University in the spring of 2008 and
began my MS at Shippensburg in the fall of 2009. I hold a graduate assistant position
as custodian to the animal care facility as well as maintain both the human and animal physiology laboratories. My main interests concern the conservation and management of game and non-game mammals; however, I enjoy studying all critters! I
conduct research under the supervision of Dr. J.R. Stewart and have recently been
working in conjunction with the natural resources department at the Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) to assess the increased presence of bobcats within their munitions
grounds. My current thesis project (also conjunction with LEAD) is examining the effects of an inflated deer population on the physical condition of fawns and how it possibly affects survival through their first winter. I enjoy studying biology at Shippensburg University because the department faculty is both knowledgeable as well as accessible and it is easy to interact with peers on multiple levels.
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Research Focus
Determining Source Areas of
Spring Creeks
David Miller Jr.
Renae Saum
Geography Earth
Science/Math major
with interest in ecohydrology
Dr. Hurd Lab, Dept.
Biology
Biology Ecology
Environmental Biology
Concentration
Dr. Hurd Lab, Dept.
Biology
We worked with Dr. Hurd in 2009 and determined contributing
areas to spring creeks and water supply springs in Cumberland
County.
Upper Burd Run sinks into limestone and flows 10 km to Big
Spring (photo on left showing Dave releasing uranine fluorescent
tracer).
Surface flow plugs or flows into a sink hole collapse in
limestone and flows 5 km to Bullshead Branch, including a
private water supply (photos on right showing Renee and Dr.
Hurd clearling a sediment plug, and Kaja Spaseff
(Geogrpahy/Earth
Science)
assisting
with
release
of
sulforhodamine B fluorescent tracer).

 These results will help to protect our local water resources and
aquatic ecosystems.
Page 15
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Research Focus
Surveying for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in
Amphibians in South-central Pennsylvania
Annie Birdsong , Hayley
Crowell, Grant Izzo, and Justin
Wissler
Ecology and Environmental
Biology Concentration
Dr. Maret’s Lab
Fall 2009 - Spring 2010
 Recently amphibian populations have been decreasing globally, and in some
cases species even going extinct.
In many cases, the cause is an infectious fungus called Batrachochytrium
dendrobatidis that hinders cutaneous respiration in amphibians. The fungus
appears to be spreading globally.
Our project focuses on sampling local amphibian populations to test for the
presence and prevalence of the disease in south- central Pennsylvania.
Sampling involves catching amphibians, swabbing their skin to get a sample,
and preserving the sample in alcohol. The animal is then released. The
sample undergo DNA analysis to determine whether the disease is present. A
GPS meter is used to determine the geographic coordinates so that we can
map sampling locations.
 This project enables us to gain valuable field sampling techniques and
knowledge for the future.
 Although most sites tested negative for the fungus, we did find two sites
that tested positive. Our results are being shared with wildlife managers to
help them manage amphibian species in Pennsylvania. More research is
needed to determine the effects of the fungus on native amphibians.
Page 16
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Internship Focus
Haley Wyant
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo,
Florida
Summer 2009
http://www.lowryparkzoo.com
I worked as an intern in the outreach program at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo (LPZ)
in Tampa, Florida. This AZA accredited institution is home to more than two
thousand animals. Due to Florida’s warm climate, LPZ is able to house a large
diversity of wildlife, with a collection of animals from all over the world.
My duties at the zoo consisted of taking care of the animals by preparing diets,
cleaning enclosures, and recording routine information on each animal. I also
helped trainers perform a daily animal show titled “Spirits of the Sky,” which
aims to entertain as well as inform the public about birds of prey. LPZ has
developed a traveling outreach program called ZooVentures, which goes to
schools and other institutions to give presentations and allow people to see
animals up-close. I assisted the animal trainers during these presentations.
I learned a great deal about all different kinds of animals from all over the
world. When I began my internship, I was only interested in working with
mammals. During my internship, I gained knowledge not only about mammals,
but birds and reptiles as well. My experience has made me more open minded
and has given me a greater appreciation for all wildlife. I discovered what it
means to be an animal ambassador.
Working at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo was a wonderful opportunity. I have always
wanted to work closely with animals, but I was unsure if the zoo was the right
place for me. After my internship experience, I realized there wasn’t a better
place for me to begin my career. If you love animals, are committed to
conserving wildlife, and would like to educate others, I would absolutely
recommend an internship at Lowry Park Zoo.
Page 17
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Internship Focus
Amy Horst
Cumberland County Office of the
District Attorney Forensic lab
Spring 2010
This semester, I have had the opportunity to work at the
Cumberland County Crime Laboratory. The lab performs qualitative drug
analysis, latent print recovery and examination, forensic computer analysis,
and most recently, forensic toxicology analysis. Local police departments and
the Cumberland County Drug Task Force rely on the lab to process their
evidence.
As an intern at the crime lab I have learned standard laboratory
operating procedures and protocols for ensuring quality control and avoiding
contamination of samples. This knowledge is invaluable and can be applied in
any laboratory setting. By the end of my time at the lab, I will have
experience preparing drug extractions to be run on a GC-MS instrument,
developing and lifting latent fingerprints and examining unique ridge detail in
order to identify or exclude an individual as a suspect. Along with learning
the duties of forensic analysts, the internship also provides students with the
opportunity to conduct independent research that deals with some aspect of
forensics.
The internship is a wonderful opportunity to apply what I have
been studying as a biotechnology student at Shippensburg University. It
encompasses areas of chemistry, biology, and even criminal justice. I am very
glad to have had the chance to see first hand how a real life forensics lab
operates, thanks to Dr. Elliott, the internship coordinator. The experience
will undoubtedly help to secure a rewarding career in the field of biology,
particularly forensics.
Page 18
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 19
Alumni Profile
Dr. Nicole (Nikki) Gudleski
Ph.D. The Pennsylvania State University
Nicole (Nikki) Gudleski graduated from Shippensburg University in the Department of Biology with teaching certification in 2005. She received her Ph.D. in February 2010 in
Microbiology & Immunology at the Penn State Hershey College of Medicine. While at Penn State, she worked in the laboratories of Dr. Leslie Parent (Departments of Medicine
and Microbiology and Immunology) in collaboration with Dr.
John Flanagan (Department of Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology).
Nikki’s dissertation research was on retroviruses assembly
with her research efforts focused on the main structural mechanism of all retroviruses, the
Gag polyprotein. Her studies dissected the mechanistic aspects of retroviral virus particle
formation, with emphasis on biochemical/biophysical approaches to study the regulation of
Gag nuclear trafficking and the formation of early retroviral assembly complexes. Nikki recently published her work entitled ―Gag Nuclear Trafficking is Regulated by Sequential Interactions with Host Import Factors and Viral RNA‖ in the PNAS journal and plans to submit two
additional articles in the near future.
While at Penn State, Nikki received many awards including the Moskowitz Family Endowment
Award (awarded to the top graduating student for academic excellence, publications, scientific presentations and potential for future contributions), John F. Enders award (awarded to
the top Microbiology & Immunology graduating student for academic excellence, publications, scientific presentations and potential for future contributions to the academic fields of
microbiology and immunology), Pasteur Prize (awarded to the top 3rd year student), and the
Graham Scholarship (given for prior academic excellence). She was also funded by the Tobacco Settlement Fund, a Graduate Student Research Award to support her research. In addition to her studies, Nikki also stayed active in graduate student activities, as she was the
Graduate Student Association Community Service Liaison and chaired the 2009 Penn State
Biomedical Sciences Career Day.
Now at Princeton University in the Department of Molecular Biology, Nikki is completing her
postdoctoral studies in the laboratory of Dr. Thomas Shenk. In her new appointment, Nikki
will study the human cytomegalovirus, the leading cause of congenital viral infection and
mental retardation in neonates and a major health problem in immunocompromised individuals. She is funded at Princeton University by the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.
In her personal life, Nikki is getting married in the spring to Kevin O’Regan, a virologist from
Ireland that she met while in Hershey (pictured above with Nikki). Before leaving this past
spring for her postdoc, Nikki gave and excellent seminar at SU concerning her research and
expressed fond memories and nostalgia while visiting.
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 20
Alumni Focus
We would like to hear from you!
We have created a new alumni website with the intent of staying in touch with our
graduates. The current and future newsletters will be hosted on the biology alumni site.
We have also created an alumni survey to assist us in collecting information for an alumni
database and to gather some feedback about your experiences at Shippensburg University.
Please click on the link below to explore our new alumni website and participate in the survey to tell us how we’ve prepared you for your life after Ship. The survey is anonymous
and your answers will be used for departmental evaluations and planning. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the survey.
Link to the SU Biology Alumni Website
Even if you do not wish to complete the survey, please provide us with your
e-mail address so that you can receive future newsletters—just send a quick message to [email protected]
What’s happening with our graduates?
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and what you are currently doing. In future
newsletters we will use this section to list alumni accomplishments, relocations, weddings,
engagements, births, and any other information that you might want to share with other
alumni. Please contact us at [email protected] with your information.
Recognize anyone (or perhaps yourself!)
Here are a few photos from the archives—enjoy!
Follow us on Facebook
The Biology Department has two Facebook pages. "Biology - Shippensburg University" is our official informational page. On that page we post announcements about what's going on in our Department, the latest news items, and reminders of important dates. We also have a networking page run through Addy
Bio, "friend" Addy to participate. Please join us on both pages.
Alumni Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 21
WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU…
The SU Biology Department would like to thank you for your support through the years.
Your contributions to the Shippensburg University Foundation have provided valuable support for our students. If you would like to provide support specifically to the Biology Department and/or the sciences, you can designate that your gift be directed to the Biology Department Fund or the Kresge Science Initiative. The Biology Department Fund is used
primarily to defray the costs to our students to attend and present their findings at scientific
meetings. It is also used to support student research, travel, and awards. The Kresge Science Initiative is used to purchase and maintain scientific equipment. Kresge funds are utilized by Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, and Geography-Earth Science. Equipment
the Biology Department purchased through the Kresge Science Initiative include pipettors, a
fluorometer, microfuges, a DNA vacuum concentrator, microscopes and objectives, weather
data loggers, and digital camera equipment. This year we are scheduled to receive a thermocycler, a metabolic chamber with O2 and CO2 sensors, an electroporator, and a dissolved
oxygen meter. You can make a gift to either the Biology Department Fund or Kresge Science Initiative through the SU Foundation’s website or by specifying these funds during the
Foundation’s annual appeal. Once again, we thank you for your support.
Shippensburg University
Department of Biology
1871 Old Main Drive
Shippensburg, PA 17257
717.477.1401
[email protected]