Stuffed CellsTM by Zedmalia Wolfe     The scientifically-correct adventures of an archaean, a plant cell, and an animal cell. 

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

•  We're happy to congratulate Linda Ordiway, who completed her Masters degree in 1994 with BSC's Dr. Tom Pauley, and who has recently graduated with her PhD from Syracuse University.

• We're happy to congratulate Robert Makowsky, who completed his Masters degree in 2004 with BSC's Dr. Tom Pauley, and who has recently graduated with his PhD from the University of Texas.

• Meagan (Lester) Valentine (BSC BS '07) began her studies in the Marshall School of Medicine’s BMS PhD program this Fall.  During the time since earning her BS, Meagan has continued her research with BSC faculty member Dr. Simon Collier.

• BSC's Dr. Suzanne Strait has had the unusual honor of having a fossil lizard named after her!  The publication (Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 7 (3): 299–358, 2009) explains the etymology of the genus Suzanniwana as follows: "After Suzanne Strait - friend of lizards, excavator of the Castle Gardens fauna - who kindly allowed me to study the fossils described herein; and iwana, Caribbean root of Spanish iguana (from the Oxford English Dictionary (OED))."

• BSC’s Dr. Frank Gilliam has been selected as the Program Chair for the Ecological Society of America’s 2010 meeting in Pittsburgh, PA.  More than 2,000 scientific presentations are expected to be made at the meeting, and is it an honor that Dr. Gilliam was recognized by his selection to this important and internationally-visible role. 

• BSC's Dr. Robin O'Keefe presented an invited talk as part of the Lunchtime Lecture Series at the Clay Center in Charleston, WV, in September.  Dr. O’Keefe spoke about his research in a presentation entitled "Sundance Plesiosaurs: in the Lab and in the Field".

     The MU Career Center's Fall Career Expo will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday October 7, in the Memorial Student Center. The fair features internships, graduate programs, and job opportunities.  Local and regional employers, as well as representatives of graduate and professional schools, will attend.  To learn how to register, and which employers and organizations have already registered, visit http://www.marshall.edu/career-services/career-expo.html.  For more information, contact Debby Stoler at (304) 696-6679 or stolerd@marshall.edu.

 What's New in Biological Science:  Injectable Biomaterial Regenerates Brain Tissue In Traumatic Injuries:  ScienceDaily (Sep. 3, 2009) An injectable biomaterial gel may help brain tissue grow at the site of a traumatic brain injury, according to findings by a Clemson University bioengineer.  For the full article, visit http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090902195244.htm

 Applications to Become a BSC Graduate TA Are Due By November 15, 2009

     If you will be enrolled as a BSC graduate student this Spring, you can apply to be a teaching assistant (TA).  To learn what the job involves, go to http://www.science.marshall.edu/weinstei/, and click on "TA job description".  If selected, you also must enroll for at least 9 credits of graduate courses.  In exchange, you will receive a tuition waiver, a stipend, and valuable experience.  Applications may be downloaded from http://www.marshall.edu/biology/forms.asp or picked up and returned to the main BSC office, S-350.  If you are not already admitted to the Graduate School you must first complete their forms and be granted admittance.  Graduate admissions and an application to the Department of Biological Sciences must both be complete before you can be considered for a TA position.  Questions?  Contact Dr. Robin O'Keefe at okeefe@marshall.edu, 696-2427 or in S267.