Ashland science student athletes finish a successful season

It has been a very successful spring season for varsity athletes in the sciences at Ashland University.  In addition to the contributions that juniors Beth Mantkowski (Biology) and Daiva Gerbec (Biochemistry) have made to our woman's basketball team's record breaking season and appearance in the division II national title game, several other science students had impressive showings at national conference competitions.

Mary Cargill

Junior Cory Lamar (Biology) was part of the University's 4X4 relay that finished 5th in the country at the national indoor track and field championships.  Senior Mary Cargill's (EVS/Biology) 400 freestyle relay team finished 4th in the country at the swimming and diving championships.

And earning All-America honors, senior Jake Southwick (EVS/Biology) finished 3rd at the wrestling national championships in Pueblo, Colorado.  

Jake Southwick

Job and internship search tool available to AU students and alums

Are you looking for a job or internship?  Plan to do so in the future?  Then check out a valuable search tool available to Ashland University students and alumni.  CareerShift aggregates job and internship opportunities from a large number of online sources, allowing you to search them in one place and save your research.  There is also a tool for finding contact information for people at various companies and institutions.

All you need to sign up is your Ashland email address.

Environmental Lecture highlights Global Shipbreaking Industry

Colby Self, Director of the Green Ship Recycling Campaign with the Basel Action Network of Seattle, gave the third talk in this year’s Environmental Lecture Series on Chemical Pollution in a Global Economy. His lecture, titled “Away is a Place”, highlighted the global trafficking in electronic waste and ships that are recycled by crude methods that result in severe environmental contamination and dangerous toxin exposures to workers in countries such as Bangladesh, India and China. The photo below (copyright YPSA 2009) shows shipbreaking workers at Chittagong, Bangladesh. AU’s Environmental Lecture Series is in its 20th year. The lecture series was designed to support the Environmental Science program by allowing students, faculty and members of North Central Ohio communities to interact with leaders in environmental science and policy. This year’s series is supported by a grant from the Lubrizol Foundation and additional support by Ashland University.

Ashland science students in the NCAA basketball tournament

Beth Mantkowski in a second round victory against Quincy

Daiva Gerbec cuts down the net

The Ashland University women's basketball team won a school record 31st straight game this week as they defeated Wisconsin-Parkside to move on to the NCAA Division II elite eight in San Antonio, Texas next Tuesday.  Contributing to the team's breakout season are two science majors, Beth Mantkowski (Biology; pictured above) and Daiva Gerbec (Biochemistry; pictured to the right).  Mantkowski hit a crucial jump shot and two big free throws in the closing minutes of the game to help seal the victory.

Check back next week for updates on the women's team, as well as other science majors who are competing in national athletic competitions.

Photos from the Ashland Collegian.

Microbiologist publishes new book chapter on viruses and nanotechnology

Paul Hyman, Assistant Professor of Biology, recently published a chapter in the new book Advances in Applied Microbiology.  His chapter, entitled "Bacteriophages and Nanostructured Materials", reviews the ways that scientists are using a group of viruses called bacteriophages to produce nanomaterials.  Dr. Hyman says that:

A number of groups are attempting to use genetic engineering technology to modify bacteriophages to produce proteins that will have altered properties useful for materials applications in nanotechnology. These applications include sensors for pathogen detection; high density magnetic materials for computers; and improved catalysts for chemical synthesis or miniature batteries. I have reviewed these various approaches in this article. While there have been many patents filed around these techniques, to date it does not appear that any have been commercialized. I also examine what the possible challenges for the commercialization of using bacteriophages and their proteins to create novel biomaterials might be.

Dr. Hyman involves Ashland University science students in his research on bacteriophages.  A recent graduate and former research assistant, Shane Bemiller, will be starting his doctoral studies this Fall, and two other students are currently working in Dr. Hyman's lab.  Check back for more news on their findings.