November 2005

Biology Club News

            The Biology Club’s upcoming meetings will be held on Mondays, November 1, 15, and 29 at 4:30 p.m. in S-382. 

            To be added to the Club’s email list, send your name and email address to bioclub@marshall.edu.  New members are always welcome, and even if you are unable to attend the meetings, you will receive emails about other activities you may be able to fit into your schedule.  For updates on what the Club is doing, be sure to check out the website at http://www.marshall.edu/bioclub.  Make your ideas heard by joining!

A Course to Consider: BSC 620-622: Advanced Plant Taxonomy

            This spring, Dr. Dan Evans will offer BSC 620-622:Advanced Plant Taxonomy, a 4 credit-hour course; with 2 hours of credit for each course number.  You must register for both parts of the course; however, only one lab fee is charged.  Advanced Plant Taxonomy is a course in Plant Systematics with emphasis at and below the species level.  The following are sample topics that will be covered in lecture and laboratory: Numerical Systematics - Principle Components Analysis and Canonical Discriminate Analysis, which are useful in separating closely related groups (species, subspecies); chromosome counts; anatomy of plant surfaces; geographic distribution; nomenclature and species descriptions; and data collection at the Marshall University Herbarium and the West Virginia University Herbarium.

Welcome “Stuffed cells™” – a new feature!

            BSC News is pleased to offer a feature cartoon.  The cartoon is named "Stuffed cells™", and it is both illustrated and written by creator Zedmalia “Z” Wolfe, a senior biology undergrad from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Z says, “The comic strip "Stuffed cells™" combines my knowledge of biology and my love for cartoons.  I've enjoyed drawing and watching different cartoons for over 10 years. I hope everyone will enjoy reading  "Stuffed cells™" cartoon strips.”  The main characters in "Stuffed cells™" are (from left, in the first panel below): Elly (the archea), Shelly (the plant cell), and Telly (the animal cell).  Enjoy!

Departmental Seminar Series

            BSC graduate students (and occasional faculty members) present seminars every Monday and Wednesday from 4-4:50 p.m. in Science Building room 374.  The grad students present aspects of their masters thesis research.  Feel free to attend seminar to learn something new, and to learn about the kinds of research being done right here in your department!  (There are no seminars October 31, the week of Thanksgiving break, or December 5.)  To see the list of speakers, check with Mary Jo Smith in the BSC main office, S-350, but you’re more than welcome to simply drop in and learn!

Health and Social Services Career Fair

            The Marshall University Career Services Center is sponsoring a Health and Social Services Career Fair on November 11, 2005.  You can also check http://www.marshall.edu/career-services/Interviews/interviewmain.asp for their list of upcoming on-campus interviews, as well as valuable tips that include sample interview questions, questions you might ask an interviewer, etc.

What Are They Doing Now?  An update on BSC alumni

·        From Anne Hockenberry, BSC MS 1996, to Dr. Frank Gilliam:  I'm still in Atlanta, working as a research study coordinator for dermatology studies at a large private practice, I love it!  Right now we are studying strictly biologic psoriasis medications-- really interesting. I would not be here if you hadn't introduced me to research-- I think of my time at Marshall often.

·        Brad Yurish, BSC MS 1996, is now partner and vice-president of Blake Landscapes in Leesburg, VA.  In addition, he and his wife, Karen, are expecting their first baby!

Brag Box - an abbreviated list of recent BSC student and faculty accomplishments:

·        Dr. Frank Gilliam has just had a paper accepted for publication:  Gilliam FS, AW Hockenberry, and MB Adams. 2006. Effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on the herbaceous layer of a central Appalachian hardwood forest. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 133:in press.

·        BSC MS student Nick Smith and Dr. Suzanne Strait presented "Acquiring 3-D data from small mammalian teeth: Laser scanning Eocene marsupials" at the October 19-22 Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meetings in Mesa, Arizona.

·        Publication:  Yans, J., Strait, S. G., Smith, T., Dupius, C., Steurbaut, and P. Gingerich. "High-resolution carbon isotope stratigraphy and mammalian faunal change at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary in the southern Bighorn Basin, Wyoming."

It’s True: There are more living organisms on the skin of a single human being than there are human beings on the surface of the earth.  Bonus factoid: 9 billion pieces of candy corn are produced each year.  Hope you had a Happy Halloween!

Job Opportunities – details at MU’s Career Services Center, 5^th Avenue at 17^th Street

·        http://www.usajobs.opm.gov is an extensive listing of Federal job openings.

·        Don’t forget to check out Marshall’s Career Services Center.  They have listings for permanent jobs, summer jobs, and internships.  Contact Career Services at www.marshall.edu/career-services/, or email them at career-services@marshall.edu.