Biological Sciences News Archive
In her lab at Marshall University, Dr. Nadja Spitzer and her students are exploring one of science’s final frontiers — the brain. As part of the NSF-funded West Virginia Network for Functional Neuroscience & Transcriptomics (WV-NFNT) project, Dr. Spitzer collaborates with researchers across the state to study how the brain’s… Read More
Fifteen students from across the U.S., including Marshall University Biological Sciences graduate student Mary Zarilla, have just returned from an unforgettable two-week adventure in Uganda. The group took part in Primate Behavior and Conservation (BSC 580), a field course offered in collaboration with the Semliki Chimpanzee Project — a 30-year… Read More
Environmental Science minor Maggie Dickerson was one of fourteen students who took part in Marshall’s Tropical Biology and Conservation Field Course, offered by the Department of Biological Sciences with Biology instructor Kimberly Dingess. Over two weeks in June, students explored some of the world’s most bio-diverse ecosystems in Costa Rica. Read More
Dr. Pamela Puppo, together with European collaborators, has published exciting new research exploring how plant species on islands form syngameons—networks of hybridizing species that exchange genes while still maintaining their distinct looks. Using wild thyme as a model, the study found that these genetic networks are especially large and complex… Read More
The Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab hit the road last week, traveling to St. Paul, Minnesota, for the 2025 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH)—a major national gathering of scientists passionate about fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Dr. Jayme Waldron was joined by former graduate student Emily Gray and current… Read More
Dr. Cheyenne Tait and recent Marshall Biology graduate Kia Booth recently made a splash at the Animal Behavior Society’s annual conference in Baltimore! Representing the Department of Biological Sciences, Kia presented a research poster on the lab’s fascinating work with the nudibranch sea slug Berghia stephanieae—a tiny but mighty creature… Read More
Marshall University Biological Sciences students just wrapped up an unforgettable 15-day field course in beautiful Costa Rica! From rainforests to rivers, students explored the country’s rich biodiversity while diving deep into the world of tropical biology. The immersive experience brought classroom learning to life—whether it was spotting exotic wildlife, studying… Read More
he College of Science is thrilled to announce that Dr. Guo-Zhang Zhu has been awarded the prestigious Spring 2026 John Marshall Scholar Award for his exciting project, “Epigenetic Regulation of Mammalian Spermatogenesis.” This competitive award provides Marshall University faculty members with a full semester of teaching release to pursue impactful… Read More
Big congratulations to Biology graduate students Mary Zarilla and Zak Bartholomew, who were each awarded a Fall 2025 Graduate Creative Discovery and Research Award—worth $2,500! Mary, who works in both the Dingess and Axel labs, received funding for her project: “Assessing Mammalian Biodiversity in the Albertine Rift, Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve,… Read More
We’re excited to share that Dr. Robin O’Keefe and Robbie Clark, along with former Biological Sciences students Anna Perella and Elliott Armour Smith, have just published a major paleontology discovery—a brand-new genus of plesiosaur from Canada! This newly identified marine reptile adds a fresh chapter to our understanding of prehistoric… Read More