Articles: biology

Lauren French encourages neurogenesis research of crayfish

Students collaborate in hopes of reversing neurological disorders By Tyler Stigall, Contributing Writer February 19, 2015 The Campus The laboratory of Dr. Lauren French, associate professor and department chair of biology at Allegheny, has a conspicuous lack of lab mice. French’s model organism of choice is a slightly less common test subject: the crayfish. Fortunately,

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Students and Faculty Present Research at Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting

Research by Ryan Sherry ’15, Rob Paul ’15, Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Science Casey Bradshaw-Wilson and Assistant Professor of Biology Lisa Whitenack was presented at the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting January 3-7 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Professor Whitenack presented a talk on Ryan Sherry’s summer research on bite force

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Biology Researchers at Allegheny Publish in Forensic Science International

Amanda Spadaro ’15, Kelsey Ream ’13, Caitlyn Braham ’13 and Assistant Professor of Biology Kristen Webb published a research article titled “Local mitochondrial DNA haplotype databases needed for domestic dog populations that have experienced founder effect” in the journal Forensic Science International. In this work, the students sequenced mitochondrial DNA from dogs residing in Alaska

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Wissinger and Allegheny Grads Present Paper at Joint Aquatic Societies Meeting

Co-authors Amanda Klemmer ’09, Emily Thornton ’10, Marieke Perchik ’11, Cameron Eddy ’12, and Professor of Biology and Environmental Science Scott Wissinger presented the paper “Density-dependent Cross-Links Between Detritus Processing and Benthic Algae in Shallow Ponds and Wetlands” at the 2014 Joint Aquatic Societies Meeting in Portland, Oregon. Klemmer is pursuing a Ph.D. in Aquatic

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Three Faculty Members Publish Article on Senior Capstone Experience

Professor of Biology, Neuroscience, and Global Health Studies Lee Coates, Associate Professor of Psychology Aimee Knupsky, and Associate Professor of English Soledad Caballero recently published an article titled “Charting a Required, Senior Capstone: Diverse Scaffolding for Transformative Experiences,” CURQ on the Web, Summer 2014, 34(4):10-15.

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Dr. Ronald L. Mumme Observes Foraging Behavior in Hooded Warbler

By CARSON REY, Contributing Writer September 18, 2014 The Campus Ronald Mumme, professor of biology at Allegheny College for 25 years, recently studied the hooded warbler bird species. He began his study on the hooded warbler in 2010 because of its similarities to his previous research on a different species called the slate-throated redstart. “I’m

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Professor Rebecca Dawson publishes epidemiological textbook

By ANGELA MAURONI, Science Editor September 18, 2014 The Campus Rebecca Dawson, assistant professor of biology, collaborated with Laura Wheeler Poms, a professor of psychology at George Mason University, to create and publish an undergraduate epidemiology textbook. Newly printed on Aug. 17, Dawson’s textbook, “Understanding Epidemiology: Concepts, Skills & Applications,” is currently only available at

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Whitenack’s Research Included in “The Machine Inside: Biomechanics” Exhibit

Assistant Professor of Biology Lisa Whitenack was elected to the board of directors for the American Elasmobranch Society, a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance the scientific study of living and fossil sharks, rays, and their relatives and promote education, conservation, and the wise utilization of natural resources. In addition, Whitenack’s research on performance and

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Dawson Publishes Textbook on Epidemiology: Students Contribute to Development of Text

Assistant Professor of Global Health Studies and Biology Becky Dawson has published the textbook Understanding Epidemiology: Concepts, Skills & Applications, which teaches undergraduate students the skills required to think critically about public health problems. The text takes an interdisciplinary approach to solving epidemiology problems through case studies and exercises. Erica Bryson ’15 and Elizabeth Schafer

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