Two biology faculty selected for University Mentor Award

Recipients of this year's Ashland University Academic Mentor Award were recently announced, and the list contains two members of the Department of Biology/Toxicology.  This award is given to faculty, administrators and staff after recommendation by an Ashland student.

Dr. Dick Stoffer

Dr. Steve Fenster

Dr. Dick Stoffer was nominated by senior environmental science major Mary Cargill, who writes that "As an adviser, professor and friend, Dr. Stoffer has been a large part of my academic success because he's always willing to help me in anyway he can.  With all his knowledge and experiences, he is an excellent resource to have in terms of guidance and also an exceptionally kind man who wants nothing but the best for his students."

Senior biology major Charlie Davis nominated Dr. Steve Fenster for this year's award, writing that he "has been a positive influence on my academic and personal growth here at AU, along with contributing to my graduate school admission process. Dr. Fenster is a great professor inside and outside the classroom, which is why he deserved the Mentor Award."

This is Dr. Stoffer's second Academic Mentor Award, which has also been given previously to Biology faculty Andrew Greene and Mason Posner.

Microbiologist and students publish paper on honey

Dr. Andrew Greene

Dr. Andrew Greene in the Department of Biology/Toxicology recently published a study in the journal Bios on bacterial contamination in honey.  The research involved three students: Amy Breslin (Biology '10), Brandi Meyer (Biology '09) and Wendy Dria (Biology '11), as well as Dr. David Vanata from the Department of Health Sciences.

Dr. Greene and his students showed that locally produced honey contained higher levels of bacteria than commercially blended honey.  They also used molecular techniques to examine the diversity of bacteria in both honey types, and determined that the bacteria involved where not introduced by human handling.  Future studies will be needed to determine if locally produced honey presents any increase in health risk.

Research Experience for Undergrads @ The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

The Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology Department at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville will once again offer a special summer program for undergraduates interested in research. The aim of this Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is to provide hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate students majoring in the sciences, with an introduction to cutting-edge research in the broad area of “Sensing and Signaling”. The team of REU investigators represents a multidisciplinary ensemble of Cell Biologists, Geneticists, Biochemists, and Biophysicists who are taking modern approaches to the analysis of how signals are perceived and transduced in myriad biological systems.
This opportunity is available to Sophomore and Junior undergraduate science majors, with preference for Juniors. REU Fellowships will be awarded to qualified students on a competitive basis. Each Fellowship will include a $5,000 stipend as well as an allowance for cost of living, travel, and research supplies. Please visit the program website for more information on this research opportunity and how to apply. The deadline to submit application is March 30, 2012.