Biology major starting summer research internship in San Diego

Junior Nikki Kimmet (Biology) will be heading out to the west coast this summer to conduct 8 weeks of research at the University of California at San Diego in the Department of Pharmacology's SURF program.  Her project, funded by the National Science Foundation, will involve the purification and crystallization of a newly discovered cytochrome P450 enzyme.  This protein family is involved in helping eliminate toxins from the body and also interacts with many of the pharmaceutical drugs taken by humans.  By helping to characterize this protein Nikki will further the understanding of how drugs affect the body.  Fewer than eight students are accepted into this program each year.

Nikki is one of a number of AU science students conducting research this summer.  Check back over the following weeks to find out where they are going.

Honors project focuses on flame retardants

Dr. Weidenhamer, Megan Liggett, and Dr. Mohney

Senior Biochemistry major Megan Liggett conducted her Honors Capstone Research with Dr. Brian Mohney, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer, Trustees’ Professor of Chemistry.  Their research involved the development of a method for the measurement of flame retardants in environmental samples.  Flame retardants have been added to many items including computers, plastics, and fabrics.  Accumulation of these compounds in the environment may lead to bioaccumulation in the human body and potential adverse health effects.  Megan used silicone tubing microextraction and HPLC to extract, concentrate, separate, and quantify halogenated flame retardants.  This project provides a new analytical approach to understanding the environmental and public health issues resulting from the widespread exposure to these compounds.  In addition to a successful honors thesis defense, Megan presented this research at the national ACS Meeting in New Orleans.  Her future plans include graduate study and a career in public health.

Ashland science students present honors research and head off to graduate school

Two senior science majors gave successful defenses of their honors thesis research this past week and will both be starting PhD programs in the Fall.

Lindsey Knapp and Steve Fenster

Senior Biology major Lindsey Knapp conducted her research project with cell biologist Steve Fenster to develop the zebrafish as a model species for examining the function of an important brain protein called piccolo.  Lindsey discovered that this protein, which is involved in human mood disorders, comes in various forms in the zebrafish where it likely plays similar roles as in humans.  Lindsey also conducted summer research projects at Johns Hopkins University and UC Berkeley.  She will be entering the Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology program at Emory University this Fall to begin work on her PhD.  Lindsey is a College of Arts and Sciences Scholar.

Jeff Weidenhamer, Jared Baisden
and Robert Bergosh

Senior Biochemistry/Biology double major Jared Baisden's research with chemists Jeff Weidenhamer and Robert Bergosh characterized a toxin in wilted red maple leaves that damages the red blood cells of horses when the leaves are ingested.  This work required the development of novel purification methods and numerous instrumental methods to discover the structure of the toxin.  Jared will be pursuing his PhD in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Jared is a Choose Ohio First Scholar at AU and recently received a national scholarship from the American Chemical Society.

Students and Faculty Attend ACS Meeting in New Orleans

Anna Falls, Jared Baisden, Megan Liggett and Mallorie Boron pose for a photo with the Mole and other characters from the ACS Exposition

Seven chemistry faculty members and eight of their research students gave presentations at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society held in New Orleans.  This conference attracted more than 15,500 chemists, graduate and undergraduate students, as well as other professionals.  The AU students attending were Drew Adkins (Chemistry, '13), Jared Baisden (Biochemistry '13), Mallorie Boron (Biochemistry & Forensic Chemistry '13), Katelyn Elliott (junior chemistry major), Anna Falls (junior biochemistry major), Megan Liggett (Biochemistry '13), Jennifer Pyle (Biology '13), and Aaron Tipton (junior biochemistry major).  Faculty members attending were Dr. Robert Bergosh, Dr. Perry Corbin, Dr. Rebecca Corbin, Dr. Brian Mohney, Prof. Trina Mohney, Dr. Nick Regan, and Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer.

Ten technical presentations were given by the AU students and faculty.  Coauthors included several science alumni as well as additional science students faculty members.

• “Isolation and exploration of the biological properties of natural products from the invasive plant Phragmites australis.” Drew Adkins, Robert G. Bergosh, Jeffrey D. Weidenhamer, Mei Li (Chemistry '12), Kelly Sullivan (EVS/Bio '13) and Dr. Mason Posner.
  

• “Synthesis and time dependent toxicity of nicotine analogs.” Jennifer Pyle, Robert G. Bergosh, Kelly Mozena (Chemistry/Chem. Ed. '10), Megan Liggett and Dr. Douglas A. Dawson. 

• “Progress towards the synthesis of resorcinarene-core polylactide/polyethylene glycol star block copolymers using click chemistry.” Aaron E. Tipton, Anna C. Falls and Perry S. Corbin.
  

• “Measuring halogenated flame retardants by silicone tubing mictroextraction.” Megan E. Liggett, Brian K. Mohney and Jeffrey D. Weidenhamer.
  

• “Synthesis, characterization, and degradation of multi-armed calixarene-core polylactide star polymers.” Anna C. Falls, Mei Li, and Perry S. Corbin.
   
• “Bioavailability of cadmium in inexpensive jewelry.” Mallorie L. Boron and Jeffrey D. Weidenhamer.   
  

• “Isolation and characterization of a suspected phytoalexin from Acer rubrum L.” Jared T. Baisden, Janna Pearson, Beth Miller-Lisy (Chemistry '98), Robert G. Bergosh and Jeffrey D. Weidenhamer.
   
• “Synthesis of nicotine analogs using click chemistry.” Katelyn Elliot and Robert G. Bergosh.
  

• “Impact of the cCWCS Renewable Energy Workshop on curriculum and outreach at Ashland University.” Rebecca W. Corbin.  

•  “ACS activities at Ashland University” by Anna C. Falls, Marie R. Southerland (Biochemistry '12), Cassandra E. Nix (junior EVS/Bio/Tox major) , Mallorie L. Boron, Katelyn B. Elliot, Perry S. Corbin, Rebecca W. Corbin, Dr. Matthew L. Arthur, Brian K. Mohney, and Nicholas B. Regan.

Support for faculty and students attending the meeting included funds from Ashland University, the National Science Foundation, the ACS national organization and the ACS Local Section. 

Dr. Weidenhamer, Drew Adkins, and Dr. Bergosh at the ACS Meeting

Three Ashland biology majors to start Occupational Therapy programs

Science majors at Ashland University pursue a number of different health-related professional careers.  In the last few years we have had a growing number of students work towards admission to graduate programs in occupational therapy (OT).  We are excited that three of our biology majors will be starting OT programs this Fall.

Chelsea Kaminski

Chelsea Kaminski will be graduating this spring and has been accepted into the Master of Occupational Therapy program at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA.  

After helping our woman's basketball team win a national championship, Beth Mantkowski will also be finishing at AU this Fall and will be joining the Master of OT program at Cleveland State.  She will be entering with Merianna Shihada (Biology '12), who has been working in an orthopedic practice since graduating from AU last fall where she had the opportunity to shadow the occupational therapists on staff.

Merianna Shihada

To learn more about careers in OT visit this resource page from the American Occupational Therapy Association.  

Beth Mantkowski

Ashland science athletes finish strong

This spring semester has been exciting for Ashland University science athletes.  Our majors have competed for national championships in basketball and track and field.

The team celebrates after winning
the national championship

Biochemistry major Daiva Gerbec and Biology major Beth Mantkowski won a national championship as part of our woman's basketball team this past Friday.  The team finished the season 37-1 and won the championship game in San Antonio beating Dowling College 71-56.

Daiva Gerbec with teammate and fellow
Academic All-American Kari Daugherty

Daiva was also named an Academic All-American.

Earlier in March Biology major Cory Lamar won a national championship in Birmingham as part of our 4X4 relay team, a performance that helped land the AU men's team a second place finish in the nation.  Biology major Jennifer Foster finished second in the nation in the high jump.

Jennifer Foster

Cory Lamar

Biotechnology major to research plant genomics at Michigan State

Junior biotechnology major Josh Allman will be heading to Michigan State this summer as one of 15 undergraduates chosen nationwide to take part in a summer research internship.  This 10-week program is funded by the national science foundation and allows students to conduct original research in the area of plant genomics.  Projects focus on understanding the basic biology and genetics of plants, work with agriculturally important plants like tomatos and methods for developing biofuels.

Students in the program receive a $5000 stipend and free room and board and have the opportunity to attend weekly seminars and pizza lunches with the program's faculty and graduate students.  The program culminates in a presentation given by each student on their work.