Biological SciencesVol. 12, No. 1 -- Spring/Summer 2015 http://www.biol.vt.edu

In this issue:

• PredictingHowBiodiversityAffectsDisease:Dr.LisaBelden’sResearch(page2)

• InMemoriam:BruceWallaceandDavidWest(page3)

• NewGrants(page4)

• Meetournewestdepartmentmembers(page5)

• RecentDefenses(page6)

• NewClassroomBuilding(page7)

• Retirements(page8)

• Awards(pages9-11)

GreetingsfromyourhomedepartmentinBlacksburg!Weappreciateyoutakingafewminutes–ormore–toleafthroughthelatestnewsletter.Wehopeyoulikethenewformat–twicethenumberofpagestoaccommodatemorepicturesandalargerfont,thankstoadvicefromthatAlumniAdvisoryBoard(seebelow).Whathasnotchangedarethestories,includinginsightsintosomeoftheremarkableworkbeingdonebyourresearchgroups;thisissueincludesafocusontheworkbyLisaBelden’sgrouponconnectionsbetweenbiodiversityanddiseasethathastakenthemtosomeveryintriguingtropicallocations.You’llalsoseeupdatesonfaculty,staff,andstudentachievements,includingseveralnewresearchgrants,andlearnabouttheretirementofthreelong-timemembersofthedepartment.

OneotherthingI’dliketochangeistoincludemorenewsontheachievementsofouralumni.Newgraduatesknowthatwe’reseriousaboutstaying–andinmanycasesstillgetting–intouch!Wereallyneedtohearfromyou–notjusttoshowcaseindividualaccomplishmentsbuttoletourmorerecentgraduatesknowwhat’spos-siblewithaBiology/BiologicalSciencesdegree.

Helpusforgeanothergreatimprovementinthisnewsletterthisfallwithalineortwoofnews–professionalorpersonal–fromyou.Youcansendyourinformationtovsutherl@vt.eduorjoinusonLinkedInandpostyourprofessionalaccomplish-mentsthere.Everyuniversityisdefinedbyitsgraduates–andwith10,000livingalumni,thatisalsocertainlytrueofourdepartment.

Welookforwardtohearingfromyou!

BrendaWinkelDepartmentHead

(Left) Biological Sciences Alumni Advisory Board members (left to right) Edward Goyette (President of American Biosystems; chair), Betsy Hagan (Senior Associate Dean Emeritus, VCU School of Dentistry), Jennifer Sheets (Jennifer P. Sheets Consulting), Assistant Profes-sor Greg Valdez, Mark Latimer (Latimer IP Law), and Adrienne Hoffman (Teacher, Potomac Falls High School), participated in the spring board meeting on March 28th, which included a fascinating introduction and tour of the VT Carilion Research Institute by Executive Director Mike Friedlander (right). Not present were Board Members Jean Garrett (Clinical Scientist, LabCorp), Debbie Koller (Senior Principal Scientist -Retired, Altria), Carole Pratt (DDS, Virginia Oral Health Coalition), Shawn Semones (Director of R&D, Novozymes).

Wewelcomecommentsanditemsofinterestforfuturenewsletters.PleasecontactValerieSutherland(vsutherl@vt.edu)viae-mail,orwritetousattheDepartmentofBiological

Sciences,MailCode0406,VirginiaTech,Blacksburg,VA24061.

Joinuson

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Predicting How Biodiversity Affects DiseaseBy Marlene Cimons, National Science Foundation

Inecology,asinmanyscientificfields,researchersliketodevelopgeneralrulestoexplainwhycertainthingshappeninnature,andtomakepredictions.Thereality,however,isoftenismorecomplicated.Forexample,whentryingtounderstand“communities” of species thatmakeupbiological systems, general rules don’t alwaysapply.

The Uniqueness of Communities

“Thepredictiveframeworkoftenhastobesystemspecific,”saysLisa Belden,acom-munityecologistwhoprimarilystudiesdiseaseecology.“Ifwearegoingtomakepredic-tionsaboutwhat’sgoingtohappeninanaturalsystemaswelosespecies,weneedtounderstandthenaturalhistoryoftheorganismsthatlivethere,therolesoftheindividualspecieswithinthecommunity,andthewaythosespeciesinteract.Understandingeachsystemisimportant.”

Belden,associateprofessorofbiologicalsciencesatVirginiaTech,isresearchingtwosuchspecific systems related to theecological interactions that influencedisease.Thegoalistobetterunderstandhowchangesinbiodiversity,inparticularspeciesloss,affectdiseaseoutcome.

Impacts on People

Theseareespeciallyimportantintermsofdiseasebecause“weareseeingmoreandmorezoonoticdiseaseoutbreakseveryyear,wherepathogensmovefromotheranimalsintohumans,”Beldensays.“Peoplearesaying:wheredidthiscomefrom?Morepeopleareinteractingwithwildlife,andifwedon’tunderstandthewildlifecomponent,wecan’tunderstandthehumancomponent—wewon’tbeabletoputthosepiecestogetherinordertocontrolthesepathogensandlimittheirimpactonpeople.”

Oneofherprojectsinvolvesthecomplicatedlifecycleoffreshwatertrematodes,adiversesetofparasiticflatwormsthattypicallyinfectthreehosts—sometimesincludinghumans—aspartoftheirreproductivelifecycles.Hersecondstudyislookingattheroleofsymbioticskinmicrobesinpreventingamphibianinfectionbychytrid,alethalfungusthathasdrivenmanyamphibianpopulationstoextinction.TheNationalScienceFoundation(NSF)isfundingbothprojectswithgrantstotal-ing$1.5million.

“Historically,we’ve vieweddisease from thinking,primarily, that there isoneorganism, apathogenorparasite, thatcausesdiseaseandahostthatgetsit,particularlyfromahumanperspective,”Beldensays.“Butinrecenttimes,we’vecometorealizethatinteractionsaroundthehostandthepathogenaremorecomplicated,andthatenvironmentalfactorsalsocan

beimportant.”Bothstudiesaskhow“communitystructure”affectsthefunctionofthebi-

ologicalsystem,withcommunitystructuredefinedastherelativeabundancesofthedifferentspeciesinthesystem.“Asyoustarttakingspeciesoutofcom-munities,whathappenstothefunctionofthecommunities?”shesays.

Withamphibians,forexample,“wealreadyknowthatsomeoftheseskinbacteriadoagoodjobofproducinganti-fungalcompounds,”shesays.“Thesearenaturally-occurringbacteriaontheamphibians,butwedon’tknowhowtheyget them.Wedon’t knowwhether theyarederived from theenviron-ment, orwhether they are passed from frog to frog.Whatwe certainly doknowisthatthesebacteriaproduceantifungalcompoundsandcaninhibitthegrowthofthechytridfungus.”

Thus,instudyingthesebacterialcommunities,“weareinterestedindis-easeresistancefunction,”sheadds.“Isthefunctionlinkedtothepresenceofaparticular[bacterial]speciesontheskinofthefrog?Whathappensifyoulose

thespecies?Doyoulosethefunction?”

How Does Diversity Help?

Alternatively,diversityinandofitselfcouldbeprotective,thatis,“thefactthatyouhavealotofspeciespresentandin-teractingontheskin,orthefactthattheytakeupallthespaceandblockotherthingsfromcomingin,”Beldensays.“Inthatcase,whatwouldmatteristheoveralllossofspecies—notthelossofanyparticularspecies.Itcouldbethattheseantifungalcompoundsareproducedbymanyspecies.”

Interestingly,Belden’sresearchparallelsgrowingscientificinterestinthehumanmicrobiome,wherestudiesareexamin-inghownaturally-occurringbacteriaaffectnumerousaspectsofhumanhealth.“Themicrobiomeisbringinginthisnewageofhowwethinkaboutmedicine,”shesays.“It’sinterestinghowallthisresearchiscomingtogether,andhowwearestartingtothinkofhumanmedicineinthisbroaderframeworkofhowspeciesinteractwithoneanother,andtheroleofthesemicrobialpassengers.”

Experimenting to Identify Interactions

Belden’sexperimentsinvolveexposingthreedifferentspeciesofamphibianstothe fungus after the researchers have surveyed thebacterial populationson theirskin.“Theideaistoseewhathappens,andtrackboththestructureandfunctionofthosemicrobialcommunities,”shesays.Ultimately,“oneofthethingswearehopingtodoatsomepointistreatvulnerableamphibianswithprobioticstohaveabetterdefenseagainstchytrid,”shesays.

Withtheflatworms,Belden’steamislookingatsimilarquestionsrelatingtohowdifferent specieswithin thecomplexcommunitieswhere they livehavean impactontheirlifecycles,forinstance,whathappenswhenapredatorconsumespotentialhostsintheparasitelifecycle.

“Theyhavethreehosts,andallmustbepresentfortheparasitetocompleteitslifecycle,”sheexplains.“Firstthereistheadultworm,whichreproducesinaverte-brateintestine—oftenamuskratorduckfortheparasiteswestudy.Theeggsareinfeces.Thentheyhavetogointoanaquaticsnail,wheretheyreproduceasexually.Theyconsumethegonadsofthesnailsothesnailcannotreproduce—theytakeoverthesnail,liketheinvasionofthebodysnatchers.Thenthereisanotherfree-livingparasitestagethatmustinfectanotherhost—anothersnail,oratadpole—wheretheyformalittlecystandsitthereuntilthesnail,ortadpole,isconsumedbyanothermuskratoraduck.Thentheybecomeadultworms,anditstartsalloveragain.”asweconfrontthechallengesofbiodiversitylossandclimatechange.Thesearebigchallenges,andifwewanttomitigatetheimpacts,wehavetounderstandwhatischanging.Wecan’tdothatunlessweunderstandthesystems.”

For more information on research in the Belden Lab, visit http://www.belden.biol.vt.edu

Belden Lab graduate students Daniel Medina (left) and Angie Estrada, both of Panama City, Panama, search for frogs off Pipeline Road in Soberania National Park in Gamboa, Panama. Photo courtesy Linsday Key

In Memoriam

David A. West,AssociateProfessorEmeritusofBiology,diedApril2athishomeinBlacksburg.Hewas81yearsold.WestwasbornandspenthischildhoodinBeirut,wherehisfatherandgrandfatherbothtaughtattheAmericanUniversity.HemarriedLindsayLattimoreButteinNewYorkCityin1958andreceivedhisPh.D.inornithologyfromCornellUniversityin1959.WestcametoVirginiaTechin1962wherehetaughtbiologyandgeneticsuntilhisretirementin1998.

FacultycolleagueBobBenoitwrotearemembrancetitled“ABiologyProfessorforAllSeasons.”Hewrote,“Davidwaselectedyearafteryeartothebiologydepartment’sexecutivecommitteebecausehewasthewiseintellectualwhohadavisionoftheuniversitybeyondnarrowdepartmentpersonalgoals.Hewascommittedtothetripartiteuniversitymissionofteaching,research,andservice.Hewasapopulargeneticsprofessorwhoreceivedseveralteachingawards.StudentsknewfrombattlereportsthattherewerenoeasyA’sinanyDaveWestcourse.”

Inretirement,Westpursuedinterestsinmusic,reading,travel,andthelocalmountains,helpingsecurewildernessdesignationforadditionalareasintheJeffersonNationalForestincludingBrushMountain.

J. Bruce Wallace,UniversityDistinguishedProfessorEmeritusatVirginiaTechandProfessorEmeritusatCornellUniversity,diedJan.12inBlacksburgattheageof94.BornandraisedinMcKean,Pennsylvania,hereceivedhisbachelor’sdegreein1941andPh.D.in1949,bothfromColumbiaUniversity,intheinterimservingintheArmyduringWorldWarIIunderRobertMcNamara.

Hetookapositionat,andlaterwasassistantdirectorof,theprestigiousColdSpringHarborBiologicalLaboratory.In1958,hejoinedCornellUniversityasprofessorofgenetics,retiringin1981tojointheDepartmentofBiologyatVirginiaTech.HebecameaUniversityDistinguishedProfessorofBiologyin1983andremainedanactivememberofthefacultyuntil1994.

Wallacewasaworld-renownedpioneerinthestudyofthegeneticsofnaturalpopulations.In1970hewaselectedtotheNationalAcademyofSciences.HeservedaspresidentofseveralprofessionalsocietiesandeditorforEvolutionaryBiology.Duringhislateryears,Wallacefocusedhisattentiononcomplexenvironmentalandassociatedsocietalissuesandbecameapassionateadvocateforenvironmentalliteracy.Hewrotemorethan100researcharticles,mostlyinthefieldofDrosophilapopulationgenetics,and15books,manytranslatedintootherlanguages.

Wallacewasknownasahighlyengagedmemberofthefacultywhoenrichedtheintellectualclimateandtheprofessionallivesofstudentsandfacultyalike.Hetraveledtheworldasavisitingscholar,frequentlywithhiswifeandtwochildren.Followingretire-mentWallacecontinuedtoenjoylisteningtomusic,playingharmonica,andwatchingthewildlifethatpopulatedhisbackyard.HerecentlypublishedtwosmallbooksoffictionaltalessetinBlacksburg.

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New GrantsNovel Innate Receptor for the Fungal PAMP Chitin (NationalInstitutesofHealth,$426,629,2years)

PrincipalInvestigator: Christopher Lawrence(AssociateProfessorofBiologicalSciences)andCo-PILiwu Li (ProfessorofBiologicalSciences)

Westernizedcountriesareexperiencingstrikingincreasesintheprevalenceofasthma.Success-fulcompletionofthisprojectwillincreaseourunderstandingofthepathogenesismechanismsoftheallergicasthma-associatedfungus,Alternaria,andotherchitincontainingpathogens.SuccessfulexecutionofthisprojectmayprovideinsightintothedesignandimplementationofnoveltherapeuticapproachesforpreventionandtreatmentofallergicasthmaandotherTh2driveninflammatorydiseases.

Linking Land-Use Decision Making, Water Quality, and Lake Associations to Understand Human-Natural Feedbacks in Lake Catchments(NationalScienceFoundation,$1,800,000,3years)

PrincipalInvestigator:Cayelan Carey (AssistantProfessorofBiologicalSciences)

Inthisproject,Drs.Cobourn,Carey,andcolleaguesarestudyinghowhumanactivitiesinthecatch-mentssurroundinglakescontributetoeutrophicationandthegrowthofharmfulalgalblooms,whichthreatenwaterqualityglobally.However,suchdegradationcangenerateastrongincentive

forbehavioralchange.Forexample,citizen-drivenlakeassociations,whichoftenforminresponsetodeterioratingwaterqual-ity,havegainedincreasingmomentumasacatalysttoeffectchangesinmanagementandpolicytoprotectlakewaterquality.Inthisproject,CareyandCobournwillleadateamwithcolleaguesfromtheUniversityofWisconsin,PennState,MichiganState,andtheCaryInstituteofEcosystemStudiestoexaminethelinkagesbetweenland-usedecisionmaking,lakewaterqual-ity,andtheamenitiesthatpeoplevalueinthreecontrasting,focallakecatchments.Ineachcatchment,newdatafromlakeassociationswillprovideunderstandingintohowpeoplecollectivelyactinresponsetochangesinwaterqualityandhowtheiractivitiesinfluencethebehaviorofcitizensandpolicymakers.Theinsightsfromthethreefocalcatchmentswillinturninformthestudyofhuman-naturalsystemdynamicsacrossthousandsoflakecatchmentsspanningthenortheasternandmidwesternU.S.

Using Social Network Models and Manipulations of Glucocorticoids to Understand How the Social Environment Impacts Neural Function(JeffressMemorialTrust,$100,000)

PrincipalInvestigator:Kendra Sewall (AssistantProfessorofBiologicalSciences)

Thisstudywillexaminethecostsandbenefitsofsocialbehaviortocognitionandbrainfunctioninzebrafinches—ahighlysociablebirdthatlivesinarangeofflocksizes,frompairsandsmallfamilygroups(2-4birds)tolargeaggregateflocks(upto100birds).Thisworkhasrelevancetowildanimalpopulationsandperhapsevenhumansbecauseaffiliativesocialbehavior,whichoftenaccompaniesalargeflocksize,isassociatedwithsuperiorcognitiveabilities,largerbrains,

andenhancedneuronalarchitecture.However,ifsocialbehaviorbecomeschronicallystressful,perhapsduetoovercrowdingorintensecompetition,astresshormonecalledglucocorticoidisproduced.Inhighamounts,thishormonecanimpairneuralplas-ticityandcompromisebrainfunction.Bymanipulatinggroupsizeandusingpharmacologicalcontrolofstresshormones,Sewall’sgroupwillbeabletoteaseaparttheinterplayofsocialstressandsocialenrichmentonbrainfunction.

Investigating the Mechanism of Optic Nerve Hypoplasia Associated with CASK Mutation (NationalInstitutesofHealth,$2,000,000,5years)

PrincipalInvestigator:Konark Mukherjee (AssistantProfessor,VirginiaTechCarilionResearchInstitute,BiologicalSciences)Co-PI:Michael Fox(AssociateProfessor,VirginiaTechCarilionResearchInstitute,BiologicalSciences)

Opticnervehypoplasiaisoneofthemostcommoncongenitaldisordersoftheopticdiscandanincreas-inglyprevalentcauseofchildhoodblindness.Notmuchisknownaboutthispervasivediseasewithveryfewanimalmodelsavailable.InourcurrentproposalwedescribeanewanimaldiseasemodelofopticnervehypoplasiaintheformofCASKmutantmice.

Novel receptor for the carbohydrate chitin (found in pathogen cell walls) localized to plasmamembrane of human lung epithelial cells. Confocal fluorescent microscopy was used to visualize the receptor protein.

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Meet our newest department members!

Wooram Lee wasappointedasGeneralBiologyLaboratoryCoordinatorinMarch2014.HereceivedhisM.S.inBiologicalSciencesfromIuliaLazar’slabin2014.Wooramsupportsthedevelopmentanddeliveryofthefresh-manlaboratoriesbymanagingequipmentandsuppliesandoverseeingthegraduateteachingassistants.

Stacie Quesenberry,AssistantBusinessManager,joinedthedepartmentinJune2014.ShehasaBBAinAccountingfromRadfordUniversity,andhas15yearsofexpe-rienceworkinginboththeprivatesectorandfortheVirginiaTechFoundation.

Megan Lusk,ReceptionistintheBusinessOf-fice,joinedthedepartmentinDecember2014.SheattendedNewRiverCommunityCollege,andhasseveralyearsofexperienceworkinginbusyofficesituations.

Kenneth Smith,EquipmentServiceandRepairTechnician,joinedthedepartmentinMarch2015.Beforejoiningus,KennywasemployedbytheVirginiaTechPoliceDepartment;hehasalsoworkedasanelectricianforVTFacilities.Heisresponsibleformaintainingandservicingvariousteachingandresearchequipment.

Becky Zimmerman,TeachingLaboratoriesOperationsManager,joinedthedepartmentinAugust2014.Shehasavarietyofexperi-enceinenvironmentallaboratoriesandinK-12instruction;inourdepartment,sheprovidesadministrative,logistical,safety,andfiscalsupporttothedepartment’steachinglabprogramsandcourses.

Justin Scarborough,ITSupportSpecialist,joinedthedepartmentinJune2015.HeiscurrentlycompletinghisBSinInformationTechnologythroughColoradoStateUniversity,andhehasseveralyearsofcustomerserviceandcomputersupportexperience.

New Grants (con’t)

Stochastic Models of Cell Cycle Regulation in Eukaryotes(NationalInstitutesofHealth,$2,250,000,4years)

PI:JeanPeccoud(Professor,VBI);Co-PI: John Tyson (UniversityDistinguishedProfessorofBiologicalSciences)

Thecelldivisioncycleunderliesallprocessesofbiologicalgrowthandreproduction,andmistakesincellgrowthanddivisioncausemanyserioushealthproblems,especiallycancer.Mutationsincheck-pointmechanismsarewellknowntocausegenomicinstability,leading(itisthought)toanavalancheofnewmutations,someofwhichmaytransformnormalcellsintocancercells.However,mostcheck-pointfailuresarelethal,andcheckpoint“fragility”(wherebycheckpointsfailinarandomfashion,fromonecelltoanother,becauseofmolecularfluctuations)maybeanunderappreciatedmechanismofcancerprogressioninaclonallineofmutantcells.Hence,abetterunderstandingofcheckpointro-bustnessandfragility,i.e.,oftheeffectsofnoiseoncellcycleprogressioninnormalandmutantcells,mayimproveourunderstandingoftheetiologyandtreatmentofcancercells.

Shihoko Kojima,AssistantProfessorofBiologicalSciences,joinedthedepartmentinDecember2014.SheearnedherPh.D.inHumanGeneticsattheUniversityofTokyothenpursuedpostdoctoralresearchattheUniversityofTokyoandtheUniversityofVirginia.Shelaterheldaninstructorposi-tionattheUniversityofTexasSouthwestern

MedicalCenterand,lastly,asaninvestigatorattheInterna-tionalInstituteforIntegrativeSleepMedicineattheUniversityofTsukuba.Dr.Kojima’smajorfieldofinterestismammaliancircadianbiology.

James Smyth,AssistantProfessorofBio-logicalSciencesandmemberoftheVirginiaTechCarilionResearchInstitute,joinedthedepartmentinJuly2014.HeearnedhisPh.D.inVirologyfromTrinityCollegeDublin,andpursuedpostdoctoralresearchattheUni-versityofCalifornia-SanFranciscoandattheCedars-SinaiHeartInstituteinLosAngeles.

Dr.Smyth’smajorfieldofinterestisdevelopingeffectiveanti-arrhythmictreatmentsforheartfailure.

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6Recent DefensesMany of our graduate students earned M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in the past year and have gone on to exciting new challenges:

M.S.defensebyKatlyn Amos (BenfieldLab),entitled,“Investigatinghistoricalandcon-temporarylandcovereffectsonmacroinvertebratecommunitiesandwaterqualityofVirginiaPiedmontstreams”(07/21/2014).CurrentlyaResearchSpecialistintheDepart-mentofEntomologyatVirginiaTech.

M.S.defensebyTessa Arnold (PhillipsLab),entitled,“TheMouseMagneticCompass”(05/22/2015).PlanstoworkinthebiomedicalfieldwhileapplyingtoPhysicianAssistantPrograms.

Ph.D.defensebyZhe Bao(NilsenLab),entitled,“Bioticinteractionofinvasive,early-suc-cessiontreesandtheireffectsoncommunitydiversity:amulti-scalestudyusinginva-siveAilanthus altissimaandnativeRobinia pseudoacaciaineasterndeciduousforests”(01/30/2015)

Ph.D.defensebyMatthew Becker (BeldenLab),entitled,“TheroleofsymbioticbacteriaindiseaseresistanceandconservationofthecriticallyendangeredPanamaniangoldenfrog”(08/04/2014).CurrentlyapostdoctoralfellowattheNationalZooinWashington,D.C.onaSmithsonianInstitutionFellowship.

Ph.D.defensebyCasey Bernhards(PophamLab),entitled,“RegulationofthesporecortexlyticenzymeSleBinBacillus anthracis”(08/25/2014).CurrentlyaNationalResearchCouncil/DTRAPostdoctoralFellowattheU.S.ArmyEdgewoodChemicalBiologicalCenterinAberdeen,MD.

M.S.DefensebyMary Kate Brannon(CapellutoLab),entitled,“BindingpropertiesoftheadaptorproteinsTollipandTom1”(04/16/2015).Currentlyworkingintheveterinaryfieldwhileapplyingtoveterinaryschool.

Ph.D.defensebyYan Chen(PophamLab),entitled,“CharacterizationofBacillussporemembraneproteomesandinvestigationoftheirrolesinthesporegerminationprocess”(09/05/2014).CurrentlyapostdoctoralfellowatJohnsHopkinsUniversityinBaltimore,MD.

Ph.D.defensebySarah Foltz(MooreLab),entitled,“Goingtotown:comparingthebehav-ior,physiology,andreproductionofurbanandruralsongsparrows(Melospiza melodia)”(04/22/2015).WillbeaninstructorintheDepartmentofBiology,RadfordUniversity,start-inginfallsemester.

Ph.D.defensebyVicki Garcia (WaltersLab),“LifetimefitnessandchanginglifehistorytraitsinRed-cockadedWoodpeckers,”(12-15-14).CurrentlyatOldDominionUniversityonajointprojectwithCornellUniversity,supportedbyanNSFpostdoctoralfellowship.

Ph.D.defensebyM. Camille Harris(HawleyLab),entitled,“Forestdisturbance,mosquitovectorecology,andLaCrossevirusdynamicsinsouthwesternVirginia”(08/15/2014).CurrentlyaWildlifeDiseaseCoordinator/InterdisciplinaryBiologist,attheUSGeologicalSurveyEcosystemsOffice,Washington,D.C.

Ph.D.DefensebyBin He(CiminiLab),entitled,“Mitoticdynamicsofnormallyandmis-attachedchromosomesandpost-mitoticbehaviorofmissegregatedchromosomes”(04/28/2015).CurrentlycompletingM.S.degreeincomputerscienceatVirginiaTech,whichthissum-merincludesafulltimedatascienceinternpositionatMeridium,Inc.,inRoanoke,VA.

Ph.D.DefensebyJulia Kamenz(EberhardKarlsUniversitatTubingen,HaufLab),“Temporalcoordinationofthemetaphasetoanaphasetransition,”(02/18/2015).CurrentlyapostdoctoralfellowwithJamesFerrellatStanfordUniversitySchoolofMedicine.

Ph.D.DefensebyLukas Landler(PhillipsLab),entitled,“Spontaneousdirectionalprefer-encesintaxonomicallyandecologicallydistinctorganisms:examiningcuesandunderly-ingmechanisms”(03/23/2015).CurrentlyaResearchAssistantattheResearchInstituteofMolecularPathologyinVienna,Austria.

M.S.DefensebyUsha Loganathan(Mukhopadhyay/PophamLabs),entitled,“Character-izationoftheThiroredoxinSystemofMethanosarcina mazei”(12/01/2014).CurrentlyalaboratorytechnicianintheDepartmentofBiochemistryatVirginiaTech.

M.S.DefensebyKristen Muller (BenfieldLab),entitled,“Impactsofland-useonleafbreakdownandmacroinvertebrateassemblagesinSouthernAppalachianstreams”(12/01/2014).CurrentlyanAdjunctInstructorintheDepartmentofNaturalandAppliedSciencesatNorthernVirginiaCommunityCollege-LoudonCampusinSterling,VA.

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New Classroom BuildingConstructionbeganinearlyNovemberonthemuch-anticipatedClassroomBuilding,locatedadjacenttoDerringHallonWestCampusDrive.The$42million,three-story,73,400-square-footfacility,issettoopenin2016.Itwillcontain15classroomsandfourteaching laboratorieswithseats formorethan1,450students,aswellasstudyroomsandgroupmeetingspace.

TheClassroomBuildingwillprovideahigh-qualitylearningspacetofittheneedsofanincreasinglyinteractiveandtechnology-drivenacademicenvironment.Thebuildingwillincluderoomsthatcanbesubdividedandreadilyreconfiguredastheinstructionalneeds,technologies,andteachingmethodschangeovertime.SomeroomswillbeconfiguredasSCALE-UPclassrooms,whichhelpencouragemoreinteractionandsharedlearningamongstudents.

“TheflexibledesignoftheClassroomBuildingensuresthatwewillbeabletoofferstudentsstate-of-artlearningexperiencenotonlytoday,butfordecadestocome,”saysMarkMcNamee,seniorvicepresidentandprovost.“Thenewfeatureswillcreatespacethatpromotescollaborativelearn-ingandsupportsfacultyintheireffortstomovebeyondthetraditionallecture.”

ThelocationoftheClassroomBuildingadjacenttootherinstructionalbuildingsisintendedtominimizetraveltimebetweenclassesforstudentsandfaculty.Thelocationisalsoconvenienttostudentscommutingfromoff-campus.

ThenewbuildingwasdesignedbyEYPArchitecture&EngineeringandwillbeconstructedtoLEEDcertificationstandards,adesignationgivenbytheU.S.GreenBuildingCouncilforstructuresthatusetheverybestinenergyandenvironmentaldesign.

-Adapted from an article by Bob Spieldenner and Alison Matthiessen

For more information on the ongoing construction of the Classroom Building, including links to webcams and time-lapse slide shows, visit: http://www.pdc.facilities.vt.edu/mediawiki/index.php?title=Classroom_Building

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M.S.DefensebySarah Nikraftar(MelvilleLab),entitled,“LocalizationofTypeIVPilinPolymerizationProteinsinClostridium perfringens,”(12/8/14).CurrentlyworkingasavolunteerintheMelvillelab.

Ph.D.DefensebyJoshua Nicholson (CiminiLab),entitled,“Theeffectsofchromosomenumberchangesonmitoticfidelityandkaryotypestability”(05/4/2015).CurrentlyCEOandCo-founderatTheWinnower,NewYork,NY.

M.S.DefensebySamuel Rutledge(CiminiLab),“Investigatinganeuploidy’sroleincancercellfitnessundervariousconditionsofstress,”06/30/2015.

Ph.D.DefensebyJames Skelton(BrownLab),entitled,“Towardsanunderstandingofsymbiontlifehistorythroughstudiesofcrayfishandtheirannelidassociates”(02/27/2015).CurrentlyapostdoctoralfellowwithJeffWalters;movingtoapostdoctoralpositionattheUniversityofFloridainthefall.

Ph.D.DefensebyKartik Subramanian(GBCB,TysonLab),entitled,“SpatiotemporalmodeloftheasymmetricdivisioncycleofCaulobacter crescentus,”(09/03/2014).CurrentlyapostdoctoralfellowwithPeterSorgerintheDepartmentofSystemsBiology,HarvardMedicalSchool.

M.S.defensebyAlex Sumadijaya(HiluLab),entitled,“Morphologyandmolecularphylogenyofthecompilospeciescomplex(Poaceae,grasses)withafocusonAustralia”(05/05/2015).Cur-rentlyaPlantTaxonomistattheResearchCenterforBiology,IndonesiaInstituteofSciences,CibinongScienceCenter,WestJava,Indonesia.

Ph.D.defensebyJenifer Walke(BeldenLab),entitled,“Thestructureandfunctionofamphibianbacterialsymbiontsandtheirroleinsuscep-tibilitytoafungalpathogen”(07/23/2014).CurrentlyaVisitingAssistantProfessor,RoanokeCollege,Roanoke,VA

A view of the construction site taken from Derring Hall in July 2015.

A conceptual design drawing of the completed Classroom Building .

Arthur L. Buikema Jr.,AlumniDistinguishedProfessorofBiologicalSciences,hasbeenconferredthetitleof“AlumniDistinguishedProfessorEmeritus”bytheVirginiaTechBoardofVisitors.

AmemberoftheVirginiaTechcommunitysince1971,Buikemaiswidelyknownasaninnovativeteacherofarangeofcoursesfromfreshmanbiology,includingcoursesforUniversityHonors,totheadvancedgraduatelevel.Hehastaughtmultiplecoursesinotherdepartmentsandcollegesintheuniversityandwastheco-architectofaVirginiaTechgeneralbiologylaboratorymanual.Hehasreceivednumerousprofessionalanduniversityawardsforhisteach-ing,includingtheWilliamE.WineAward,theSpornAwardforTeachingIntroductorySubjects,andtheDiggsTeach-ingScholarAward.

Formorethan25years,Buikemaconductedbasicecologyandaquaticpollutionresearch.Hehastaughtfieldbiol-ogycoursesintheBoundaryWatersCanoeAreaandtheEverglades.Buikemawastheadvisortomanyundergradu-ateandgraduatestudentsduringhiscareer.Heservedasthegraduateadvisorfor21master’sdegreeandninedoctoraldegreestudentsandservedonmultiplegraduateadvisorycommitteesintheDepartmentofBiologicalSciencesandotherdepartments.

Buikema haswrittenapproximately115peer-reviewed researchpapersandbook chapters andhaspresentedresearchpapersatmorethan200regional,national,andinternationalscientificresearchconferences.Hehasre-ceivedfundingfromseveralstateandfederalagenciestosupporthisresearch.Inaddition,hehasservedasaseniorscientificadvisortotheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyandwasaSeniorFulbrightScholartoZimbabwe.In2000,BuikemawasinvitedtogiveVirginiaTech’sfallUniversityCommencementaddress.

Buikemareceivedabachelor’sdegreefromElmhurstCollegeandamaster’sdegreeandPh.D.fromtheUniversityofKansas.

Jacob Waller,equipmentrepairandlaboratorysafetyspecialist,retiredinJuneafter30yearsatVirginiaTech. Amemberofthedepartmentsince1985,Wallerwasresponsibleforservicingalltheequipment,spreadamongsevenbuildings,inoneofthelargestdepartmentsattheuniversity.Healsoservedastheliaisonbe-tweenBiologicalSciencesandtheDepartmentofEnvironmentalHealthandSafetyServices,chairedthedepartment’ssafetycommittee,andtrainedfaculty,students,andstaffonsafetyissuesandpolicychanges,inadditiontotrackingdownthousandsofpiecesofequipmentdur-ingtheuniversity’sbiennialinventorycertificationprocess.Histechnicalexpertisesavedthedepartmentthousandsofdollarseachyearbyrepairing,ratherthanreplacing,equipment.

Inadditiontohisresponsibilitiesinthedepartment,hewastheadvisorandaninstructorfortheVirginiaTechSCUBAClub.Hewas(andcontinuestobe)avolunteerwiththeVirginiaTechRescueSquadandwasamongthefirstresponderswhoprovidedsupportonApril16,2007.Hewasrecentlyhonoredbyinductionasoneoftheselectfew“lifemembers”oftheSquadafternearlyadecadeofservice,togetherwithhiswife,KristiDeCourcy. In2010hereceived thePresident’sAward forExcellence,presentedannually toup tofiveVirginiaTechstaffemployeeswhohavemadeextraordinarycontributionstotheuniversity.Jakeispursuingasecondcareerasanemergencyroomtechnician.

Jackson R. Webster,professorofbiological sciences,hasbeenconferredthetitleof“ProfessorEmeritus”by theVirginiaTechBoardofVisitors.

AmemberoftheVirginiaTechcommunitysince1975,Websterhasestablishedhimselfasanexceptionalteacher-scholar.HehastaughtavarietyofcoursesrangingfromjuniortotheadvancedgraduatelevelfortheDepartmentofBiologicalSciences.Hehasbeenanadvisortomanyundergraduateandgraduatestudentsduringhiscareer,servingasagraduateadvisorfor17master’sdegreeand10doctoraldegreestudentsHealsohasservedongraduateadvisorycommitteesinseveralotherdepartmentsandcolleges.

In2012,WebsterwashonoredwithVirginiaTech’sWilliamE.WineAwardinrecognitionofhisoutstandingworkintheclassroom.

Websterisanaccomplishedresearcherintheareasofecosystem-levelprocessesofaquaticecosystems,biogeo-chemistryof streams,and riparian-stream interactions. Inhis career,hehas securedmore than$6millionasaprincipalorco-principalinvestigatorongrantsandanother$32millionasacontributingmemberofresearchteamsinvolvingotheruniversities. Hehaspublishedmorethan100peer-reviewedpapersand35bookchapters.OneofhispaperswaspublishedinScienceandanotherwaspublishedinNature,theleadingjournalsinthescientificcommunity.Hehasservedasanassociateeditorforthreeprofessionaljournalsandonstateandnationaltechnicaladvisoryboardsandcommittees.

Websterreceivedhisbachelor’sdegreefromWabashCollegeandhisPh.D.fromtheUniversityofGeorgia.

8Retirements

Dr. Buikema is pictured here a year or two before coming to Virginia Tech.

Dr. Webster on his first day of work at Virginia Tech in 1975.

Jake and his dog,Shannon, circa 1988.

Associate Professor Carla Finkielstein hasreceived the university’s 2015 AlumniAward for Outreach Excellence. Finkiel-stein, who has an active teaching and re-search program, is a passionate advocatefor breast cancer awareness and research.Heradvocacyworkhasincludedsupportofstateand federalbills that championearlybreast cancer screening for women under40. For the past three years, Finkielsteinhasco-organizedPrettyinPink,afundrais-ingeventthatbringsBlacksburgmerchants,

residents,andbreastcancersurvivorstogethertocollectfundstodefraythecostofmammogramsforuninsuredwomen. Shees-tablishedtheMobilMommprogram,inwhichareaphysicianandnursevolunteerstogetherwithbreastcancerscientistsandsurvi-vorsvisitruralcommunitiestoeducateresidentsabouttheneedforregularmammogramsandtooffertheserviceatnocost.Shebringsmaleandfemalesurvivorstocampuseachyearforaseriesoflecturesinbreastcancer. Finkielsteinengagesherstudentsinalloftheseactivitiestohelpthemunderstandtheimportanceofbeingactivemembersoftheircommunities.

-Adapted from an article by Mark Owczarski

Professor Brent Opell has received theuniversity’s2015WilliamE.WineAward.Since joining the Virginia Tech faculty in1978, Opell has taught more than 8,000students, most of them in freshman- andsophomore-level courses. His teachingcontributions have been recognized bytwo Department of Biological SciencesUndergraduateTeachingAwardsand threeCollege of Science Certificates of TeachingExcellence. Opell engages students incoursematerialby integratinghis research

andfieldexperiences into classpresentations.Hisuseof real-world examples from his personal travels engages students.Outsidetheclassroom,OpellmentorsundergraduatestudentsbyinvolvingtheminhisNationalScienceFoundation-sponsoredstudiesofspiderevolutionarybiology.Theseincludestudiesofadhesioninthecapturethreadsofspiderorb-webs,withstudentsascoauthorsonmanyofthepublishedpapers.Inadditiontohisteachingactivities,Opellhasservedasanacademicadvisorsince1978,wasafreshmanadvisorfrom2002to2013,andservesasapre-veterinaryadvisor.

-Adapted from an article by Mark Owczarski

AssociateProfessorofBiologicalSciences/VirginiaTechCarilionResearchInstituteMichael Fox hasbeenselectedastherecipientofa2015BrainandBehaviorResearchFoundation(BBRF)NARSADIndependentInvestigatoraward.Theawardisfor$100,000forhisworkon,“Matricryptin–releasingcollagenscontributetoinhibitorysynapseformationandcomplexbraindisease.”AccordingtoMichael Friedlander,FoundingDirectorofVTCRIandProfessorofBiologicalSciences,“TheBBRFscientificcouncilselectsthemostpromisingideasforNARSADgrantstoindependentanddistin-guishedinvestigators.ANARSADawardisoneofthehighestdistinctionsinthefieldofmentalhealthresearch,support-ingsomeofthebestresearchersandideasinbrainresearch.”And“ThismajorrecognitionofMike’sworkisverywelldeserved.”

Dr.FoxwasalsorecentlyselectedfortheInternationalSocietyofNeurochemistry’sYoungScientistLectureshipAward.Theawardrecognizes“eminentresearchachievementsofpromisingyoungscientists”andconsistsofanhonorariumandapaidtriptopresentatalkatthe25thBiennialISNMeetinginCairns,Australia,inAugust.

The Biological Sciences Diversity Committeehasbeenrecognizedwiththe2015 Diversity Award from the College of Science.Thiscom-mitteewasestablishedin2002bythen-departmenthead,Bob Jones.Dr.Jones,whoisnowProvostatClemsonUniversity,placedanenormouspremiumonvaluingandpromotingdiversityinthedepartmentandacrossthecampus,alreadyestablishingthiscommitteeinhissecondyearasheadandatatimewhenprogramsthatarenowamain-stayofdiversityeffortsonourcampus,e.g.,AdvanceVT,didnotyetexist.Eventhe“VirginiaTechPrinciplesofCommunity”wereonlyadoptedthreeyearslater.WeareproudthatourcommitteehasbeenpartofagradualandyetultimatelyprofoundchangeovermorethanadecadeinhowweaddressissuesofdiversityonourcampusandwhatisnowamajorpriorityforPresidentSands’sadministration.

FromitsinceptionTheBiologicalSciencesDiversityCommitteeenthu-siastically embraced the challenge of raising awareness and under-standingofdiverseethnic,cultural,andgenderperspectives,whileac-tivelypromotingandcelebratingdiversity.Together,themembersofthiscommitteecreatedasustainedfocusonbuildingdiversityaware-nessforfaculty,staff,andstudentsthathasbeenfeltnotonlyinthedepartment,butacrossthecampus.Aremarkablenumberoforiginalactivitieshavebeendevelopedoverthepastthirteenyears,severalofwhicharetraditionsthatnowhelpdefinewhoweare.Particularlynoteworthyaretheannualinternationalpotluckluncheon,the“Strat-egiesforEffectiveInteraction”sessions,and,forthepastfouryears,organizationoftheAnnualMartinLutherKingJr.weekseminars.Thedepartment is very pleased that the committee’s endeavors havebeenrecognizedbythecollegeandlooksforwardtobenefittingfromtheireffortsformanyyearstocome.

Grad students enjoying the Annual Interna-tional Potluck Luncheon, sponsored by the BIOL Diversity Committee

Drs. Sharon and Craig Ramey, professors and distinguished research scholars at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, presented two seminars as part of the Fourth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Week Seminars in 2015. The Rameys knew Dr. King and have been highly involved nationally in promoting and addressing issues of health disparities and race in the United States.

9Awards

10

Undergraduate Awards and ScholarshipsBiology Alumni Undergraduate Research Excellence Award (Supported with discretionary funds contributed by former students, faculty and other donors; presented to outstanding undergraduate researchers): Jose Zuniga Arana

Arthur Buikema and M. Alison Galway Outstanding Senior Award (Established by Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus Art Buikema and wife Alison; presented to a graduating senior in recognition of academic achievement, leadership and service): Albert Hinman

Arthur Buikema and M. Alison Galway Undergraduate Research Award (Established by Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus Art Buikema and wife Alison; presented to outstanding undergraduate researchers): David Vasquez

Ralph E. Carlson Memorial Freshman Scholarship (Established by the late Elizabeth Bailey Carlson in honor of her husband, Ralph E. Carlson, former professor in the Pamplin College of Business; awarded to first-year students in Biological Sciences with high academic achievement): Kristen Fisher

Ralph E. Carlson Memorial Scholarship in Ornithology (Established by the late Elizabeth Bailey Carlson in honor of her husband, Ralph E. Carlson, former professor in the Pamplin College of Business; awarded to Biological Sciences students pursing careers in ornithology): Grace Wilde and David Vasquez

Joe and Barbara Cowles Scholarship (Established by Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences and Former Department Head Joseph Cowles and his wife Barbara Cowles, former Associate Director of the VT University Honors Program; awarded to undergraduate students who are planning to enter the fields of nursing, teaching, professoriate, or research): Valentina Alaasam

Albert and Sharon Hendricks Undergraduate Excellence Award (Established by Associate Professor Emeritus Albert Hendricks and wife Sharon; awarded to outstanding undergraduate researchers): Dylan LescureandJessica Li

Rachael Hill Memorial Scholarship (Established in honor of student Rachael Elizabeth Hill, who died during the tragic April 16, 2007 shooting at Vir-ginia Tech; awarded to rising sophomore undergraduates with an high academic achievement and a record of University or community involvement): Vraj Patel, Elizabeth Lilly, andHunter Jecius

Robert Jones Undergraduate Research Excellence Award (Established by former Professor of Biological Sciences and Department Head Robert H. Jones; awarded to outstanding undergraduate researchers in Biological Sciences): Brittany Blankenship

Deborah Ayers Koller Scholarship (Established by alumna Deborah Ayers Koller; awarded to Biological Sciences students with high academic achieve-ment who are aspiring for a research career): Rose Peterson and Katelyn Catalfamo

Stephen D. Lutz Scholarship (Established by alumni Stephen Lutz; awarded to Biological Sciences students who are Virginia residents and have high academic achievement): Bishal Patel

Stacey Smith Biology Research Excellence Award (Established by alumna Stacey Smith; awarded to undergraduate Biological Sciences majors inter-ested in pursuing a career in basic research who are currently engaged in undergraduate research): Elizabeth Brown

I.D. Wilson Memorial Scholarship(In honor of Dr. I.D. Wilson, former head of the Department of Biology; awarded to undergraduate Biological Sci-ences majors who are in their last year of study and plan on pursuing a career in veterinary medicine):Molly Delaney

Graduate Awards and ScholarshipsArthur Buikema and M. Alison Galway Graduate Student Teaching Award (Established by Alumni Distinguished Professor Art Buikema and wife Alison Galway; awarded to graduate teaching assistants for excellence in instruction): Alison Kernell Burke

Lewis Edward Goyette Graduate Fellowship (Established by alumni Edward Goyette in honor and recognition of his father, Lewis Edward Goyette; awarded to graduate students involved in the study of industrial microbiology): Alison Kernell Burke and Benjamin Webb

Noel Krieg Graduate Fellowship (Established by a group of former students in honor of Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus Noel Krieg; awarded to an outstanding graduate student in biological sciences):Jonathan Doubek

John Palmer Memorial Scholarship (Established by alumna Rhonda Leavenworth Johnson in honor of her uncle, John Gilbert Palmer, former Adjunct Professor of Biology; awarded to an outstanding graduate student in Biological Sciences): James Skelton

Robert and Marion Paterson Scholarship (Established in honor of Robert Paterson, Professor and Department Head of Biological Sciences, and wife Marion; awarded to an outstanding graduate student in Biological Sciences): Skylar Hopkins

2015 Biological Sciences Awards and Scholarships

11More Awards

GraduatestudentAlexandra Gerling oftheCareyLabwasnamedthe2015CollegeofScienceOutstandingMaster’sStudent.Alex’sresearchfocusesontheeffectsofhypolimneticoxygenationsys-temsonwaterqualityinreservoirs.SheworkscloselywiththeWesternVirginiaWaterAuthoritytoanalyzetheeffectsofmanagementondrinkingwaterreservoirsintheRoanoke/Blacksburgarea.Congratulations,Alex!

AssistantProfessorsCayelan CareyandKendra SewallarerecipientsoftheFralinLifeScienceInstitute’sNewInvestigatorAward,whichrecognizespromisingfirst-timetenure-trackfacultywhohavejoinedVirginiaTechwithinthelasttwoyears.Thisyeartherecipientseachreceived$10,000toadvancetheirresearcheffortsastheyseefit.

Dr.Careyisspecializinginfreshwatereco-systemecologyandisafacultymemberoftheGlobalChangeCenteratVirginiaTech.Herresearchintegratespopulation,community,andecosystemecologytoexaminehownaturalandhuman-inducedinfluencesaffectfreshwaterecosystems.

Dr.Sewallisspecializinginanimalbehav-iorandneurobiology;herresearchseekstounderstandhowneuralandbehavioralprocesses--andtheenvironmentalanddevelopmentalfactorsthatimpactthoseprocesses--contributetoanimalsurvivalandreproductivesuccess.

Art Buikema,Jack Evans,andMike RosenzweigallreceivedFa-voriteFacultyAwardsfromVTHousingandResidenceLife.

Art BuikemawasnamedaVTAcademyofFacultyServiceFellow.

Alison Kernell Burke,aPh.D.studentinAnn Stevens’ lab,re-ceivedtheJohnJohnsonAwardforGraduateStudentExcellenceinMicrobiologyfromtheVTInterdepartmentalMicrobiologyGraduateProgram.

Cayelan CareyreceivedtheOutstandingReviewerAwardfromtheJournalofPlanktonResearch.

AnimagefromAssistantProfessorCayelan Carey’s paperonsloth/algaesymbiosisinProceedingsoftheRoyalSocietyhasbeenchosenbyWiredmagazineasoneoftheBestScienceVisu-alizationsof2014.

GraduatestudentJon DoubekoftheCareyLabreceivedaGlobalLakesEcologicalObservatoryNetworkFellowship.

AssociateProfessorCarla Finkielsteinreceiveda2015SummerScholarsProgramAwardfromtheVTInstituteforSociety,Cul-ture,andtheEnvironment.

Dana Hawleyreceivedthe2014MitchellA.ByrdAwardfromtheVirginiaSocietyofOrnithology.

Khidir Hilu wasnamedtheVTCIDER(CenterforInstructionalDevelopmentandEducationalResearch)TeacheroftheWeekinJanuary2015.

Iuliana LazarwasnamedtheVTScholaroftheWeekinDecem-ber2014.

GraduatestudentsAriel Leon (HawleyLab)andLaura Schoenle(MooreLab)receivedVTSigmaXiOutstandingPh.D.ResearchAwards.

Jessica Li,recentB.S.graduateinbiologicalsciences,wasnamedthe2015VTUndergraduateStudentoftheYear.

AssociateProfessorLisa BeldenisoneoffourfacultymemberswhoreceivedTheInnova-torAward,anewinitiativejointlysponsoredbytheInstituteforCriticalTechnologyandAppliedScienceandtheFralinLifeScienceInstitute,whichrecognizesoutstandingfac-ultymembersandincludesa$25,000stipendtobeusedtoadvanceinnovativeresearchprojectsandteam-orientedscience.

“ICTASandFralinhavejoinedtorecognizeandrewardsomeofouroutstandingfacultyinawaytheydidnotanticipate,”saidDennisDean,directoroftheFralinLifeScienceInstitute.“Wehavemanyterrificinnovatorsatthisuniversityandbyrecognizingatleastseveralsuchindividualsonarecurringbasis,wearesendingthemessagethatthisuniversityisawareofandappreciatesinnovation.Aspecialaspectofthegrouprecognizedthisyearistheirveryvisiblecollaborativeandinterdisciplinaryapproaches.”

Graduatestudent Laura SchoenleoftheMooreLabwasawardedaUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgency’sSciencetoAchieveResultsorSTARprogramfellowshipforoutstandingenvironmentalresearchforherstudyonstresshormonesanddiseaseinred-wingedblackbirdsShewillusethefellowship,whichincludesa$25,000stipend,toexpandthestudytolookathowmercuryandstresslevelsaffectresistanceandtolerancetoavianmalaria.Congratulations,Laura!

Michael Athanas,SeniorITSpecialist,recentlyreceivedtheRoanokeValleyRedCrossChapter’shighestaward,theClaraBartonHonorAwardforMeritori-ousVolunteerLeadership.MichaelhasbeeninvolvedwiththeVirginiaTechRedCrossClubsince2006,andhasservedasVice-PresidentandPresidentoftheclub.Heiscurrentlytheclub’sStaffAdvisor,andforthepasttwoyearshasservedasclubliaisonontheRoanokeValleyChapter’sBoardofDirectors.Congratulations,Michael!

Department of Biological Sciences Mail Code 04061405 Perry Street Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA 24061 (540)231-8930

Department of Biological Sciences Annual Fund

Onepersoncanmakeabigdifference!

TheDepartmentofBiologicalScienceshasarichhistory,astronginternationalreputation,andabrightfuture.Thedepartmentoverseesthelargestdegree-grantingprogramatVirginiaTech,withmorethan1700studentmajors,andalsoprovidesinstructiontothousandsofstudents,bothwithinthemajorandfromacrossthecollegeanduniver-sity.Ourundergraduateandgraduatedegreeprogramspreparesociety’sfuturescientists.Andouroutstandingfacultymembersconductcutting-edgeresearchthatim-pactssocietyasawhole.

Yoursupportiscriticaltooursuccess.Anymonetarycontributionsyoumakecouldbeusedtosupportdeserv-ingstudents,providenecessaryequipment,orextendourresearchactivities.Thisyearwearefocusingourfundraisingeffortsontwoimportantfunds–TheDepart-mentofBiologicalSciencesResearchDayFund(876105)andtheDepartmentofBiologicalSciencesGeneralFund(881317).

WhenyoureceiveyourCollegeofScienceAnnualFundletterorphonecall,pleaseearmarkyoursupportfortheDepartmentofBiologicalSciencesandoneofthesespecialfunds.SimplymakeanotationonthegiftcardorletthecallerknowthatyouwanttodirectyourdonationtotheBiologicalSciencesDepartmentandthenincludethespecificfundnameandnumber.Tomakeanim-mediatecontribution,youmayvisittheuniversity’swebsiteatwww.givingto.vt.eduorcontacttheOfficeofGiftAccountingat(800)533-1144.

Formoreinformationaboutthesefundsortolearnmoreaboutotherwaystogive,pleasecontactJennyOrzolek,DirectorofDevelopmentfortheCollegeofScience,at(540)231-5643orjorzolek@vt.edu.Wethankyouinadvanceforyoursupport!