Research presentations by RU biology students start 2015

Society for Integrative and Comparable Biology

Five Radford University biology students rang in the new year with research presentations at the Society for Integrative and Comparable Biology (SICB) annual meeting in West Palm Beach, Florida, Jan. 3-7.

"The conference offered students a wonderful opportunity to network prepare for success after graduation," said Assistant Professor of Biology Sara O'Brien. "Radford University offers a rich blend of opportunities for undergraduate research, a hallmark of the University's commitment to one-on-one, student-focused learning and scholarship beyond the classroom."

SICB-group

RU biology majors (from left): Emily Guise, Mandeep (Monica) Kaur, Katharyn Self, Jordan Hamden and Caitlin Linville during their research presentations at the Society for Integrative and Comparable Biology (SICB) annual meeting.

The presentations were:

  • "Trouble with trenbolone? Examining the influence of a common run-off pollutant on Gambusia holbrooki development and behavior," by Emily Guise, who was mentored by O’Brien. Presented in the comparative endocrinology division.

  • "Exploring the synergistic effects of estrogen-mimicking endocrine disrupters on the physiology and behavior of Gambusia holbrooki," presented by Katharyn Self, mentored by O’Brien. Presented in the environmental endocrinology division.

  • "The Effects of Vespa Amino Acid Mixture on Swimming Endurance of Musca domestica," presented by Caitlyn Linville and Monica (Mandeep) Kaur, mentored by Assistant Professor of Biology Jason Davis. Presented in the digestion and energetics division.

  • "Measuring immunocompetence of free living, non-model passarines using a novel BKA," presented by Jordan Hamden, mentored by Assistant Professor of Biology Joy Caughron and Davis. Presented in the disease, ecology and ecoimmunology section.

SICB fosters research, education, public awareness and understanding of living organisms from molecules and cells to ecology and evolution with interdisciplinary cooperative research that integrates across scales and incorporates new models and methodologies.

The student researchers were recipients of Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships as well as Highlander in Action and Biology Research Awards from RU. The Office of Undergraduate Research and the Scholar-Citizen Initiative facilitated the trip.

Jan 20, 2015