Ashland Biology alumna attending the 61st Nobel Laureate Meetings in Lindau, Germany

Becky Richards speaking at AU in 2010

Becky Richards '04, a combined MD/PhD student at Oregon Health Sciences University, was selected as one of the 570 students out of 20,000 applicants to attend this year's meeting of Nobel laureates in Lindau, Germany.  This annual meeting allows young researchers from around the world to discuss science with 25 Nobel Laureates.  Becky will be blogging about this amazing experience, and has just written her first post.

Having recently submitted the final edits to her doctoral dissertation, Becky will be rejoining the 3rd year of medical school after travels through Europe this summer.

You can learn more about Becky's research in this previous post about her visit to the AU campus in 2010.  And if you would like to follow the Lindau Conference you can follow a special social media page here.  While we are not all fortunate to attend the conference itself, lectures from the Laureates are available online.  The theme of this year's conference is physiology and medicine.

Young hawk rescued on campus

The Department of Biology had an exciting visitor recently.  Dr. Dick Stoffer came across a stunned juvenile red-shouldered hawk on the University campus, apparently after it had flown into some object.  Being harassed by other birds, and unable to fly, Dr. Stoffer brought the bird back to the Department where we took these pictures.

On their way to a local raptor rescue facility, this young hawk gathered the energy to escape its temporary cardboard home and was last seen in the vicinity of Dr. Stoffer's back yard.  Apparently all it needed was time to clear its head.  And Dr. Stoffer says that some adult red-shouldered hawks in the area may be helping out this younger new addition to the neighborhood.

Biology graduates to pursue advanced nursing degrees

Greg Schwertner '10

Two of our recent graduates will be starting programs to earn their Masters of Science in Nursing degrees this Fall.  Melissa Michaels '11 will be going to the MSN program at Xavier University in Cincinnati while Greg Schwertner '10 will be attending the University of Toledo.  Advanced nursing degrees are one of many health related opportunities for AU science graduates.  Other recent grads are heading to medical, veterinary, physical therapy, occupational therapy, optometry, dental and physician assistant programs.  Check back soon to see what other health programs our students will be starting this Fall.

AU Grads Co-Recipients of Prestigious Yeager Award

Two May 2011 AU graduates -- Jennifer Miller (left, Geology and Integrated Science) Daphne Guinn (right, Toxicology) -- have been selected as co-recipients of the Ernest B. Yeager award by the Cleveland Chapter of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS) and the Analytical Topics Group of the American Chemical Society (ACS). They are pictured here presenting their research in Washington DC at the recent Council on Undergraduate Research Posters on the Hill with adviser Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer.

The award will be presented on June 1 at the annual Conference on Spectroscopy and Analytical Chemistry at John Carroll University, where Guinn and Miller will give a presentation on their research. The Yeager award recognizes Guinn and Miller’s achievements in independent research, particularly in the application of spectroscopy to the analysis of cadmium, for which the two will receive a certificate, a monetary award and a year's membership in SAS.

The two graduates are the first Ashland University students to win this prestigious award since their adviser, Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer, professor of chemistry, won it as an undergraduate student in the late 1970s.

Dr. Weidenhamer notes, “The Yeager Award is quite an honor for both Daphne and Jennifer and for Ashland University. Their work has helped draw attention to the previously unrecognized hazards of putting cadmium, which is a very dangerous heavy metal, into jewelry products as a replacement for lead. It is unusual for scientific research at any level to make a direct impact on public policy, but this work has already helped improve the safety of children’s products and raised the level of consciousness about the dangers of cadmium.”

Daphne is pursuing a career in biomedical research, and has been accepted into the Ohio State University Integrated Biomedical Science Graduate Program to study for her Ph.D. Jennifer is interested in pursuing a career in environmental geochemistry and has been accepted into the Miami University Geology Program to study for her Master’s degree.

Ashland Alum Pursues Spectroscopy Research

David Wilcox (Chemistry ’08), who is working on a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry at Purdue University, has just published a paper in the journal Chemical Physics Letters (doi:10.106/j.cplett.2011.04.001). The paper, titled “Additional conformer observed in the microwave spectrum of methyl vinyl ketone [MVK],” describes the use of chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy for structural analysis of MVK, and provides evidence for a previously undocumented conformation of this molecule. MVK is an important compound in atmospheric chemistry which can react with hydroxyl radical to form reactive aldehydes.

While a student at Ashland, David conducted research with Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer that helped develop new methods of analysis for root exudates in soil. David writes, "The education I received at Ashland University greatly prepared me for graduate level research. In conjunction with research under Dr. Weidenhamer, the lab and classroom experience equipped me with the problem-solving tools that I still use to accomplish goals in my research at Purdue.” After completing his Ph.D. requirements, David plans on pursuing a post-doctoral position in molecular spectroscopy.

Chemistry alum taking position with Cooper Tire

Tiffany Weaver (Chemistry ’11) has been hired as a Materials Engineer for the Materials Application Development department of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company of Findlay, Ohio. Her job will include technical support to domestic and international manufacturing facilities, development of new test methods, work on global raw material sourcing plans, and participation on teams preparing product lines for compliance with upcoming environmental regulations in Europe.

Tiffany states that “The opportunities to use and learn about the instrumentation beginning as a freshman was a reason for choosing Ashland University to begin with and played a major role in making me a good applicant for the position.” She also credits the one on one attention from faculty, her research opportunities working with Dr. Perry Corbin and Dr. Rebecca Corbin on MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of polymers, which resulted in a research presentation at the American Chemical Society’s national meeting in Anaheim, and other opportunities such as the ability to travel abroad for helping make her a well-rounded candidate that stood out from the rest.

Ashland toxicology graduates to enter PhD programs

Daphne Guinn

Two of our toxicology majors will be entering graduate school this Fall to begin studies towards their PhD degrees.  Daphne Guinn has taken part in several research studies while an undergraduate student at Ashland University, including work on the toxic effects of metals in children's toys and costume jewelry, and the effects of chemical mixtures.  Daphne will be entering the Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at The Ohio State University where she will be focusing on the Biology of Human Diseases.

Phillip Wages

Phillip Wages has performed undergraduate research at Ashland University on the development of the eye lens using a small fish called the zebrafish, while also investigating the toxic effects of pesticide and herbicide mixtures for his University honors thesis.  Phillip will be entering the Biomedical and Biological Sciences Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Our undergraduate toxicology program at Ashland University is one of only a handful in the country.  Graduates from the program go on to pursue advanced research degrees, enter medical school and other health professional programs and gain employment as laboratory technicians.