News

Changemaker Highlight of the Week: People for Pollinators

Posted: March 16, 2023

Elyse Talley, University of Evansville biology, and ethics major, wanted to study the research-implementation gap, particularly as it relates to native plants' importance to conservation efforts. She found there was plenty of research into the importance of native plants for pollinators such as bees, and how increasing the number of native plants and pollinator zones will be immensely helpful in improving environmental stability. But as important as that research is, there was not as much material available on how to educate and invigorate a community around the concept.

Increasing the native plant population will lead the way to a healthier, cleaner environment, and Elyse wanted to figure out how to make that happen on a large scale.

So she set out to close that gap. With the guidance of Professor of Biology Cris Hochwender, Elyse spent the Summer of 2022 in the University of Evansville's Native Plant Garden, identifying plants and bees. She paid close attention to which plants attracted which bees and monitoring their pollination habits and efficacy and began laying the groundwork for her ChangeLab, called People for Pollinators.

In the Fall 2022 semester, she worked hard to make connections in the community, ultimately forming meaningful connections with John James Audubon State Park, Seton Harvest, Wesselman Woods, Warrick and Vanderburgh Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Indiana Native Plant Society. Through these connections, she has been involved in coordinating local events for raising awareness and also distributing what Elyse has called "Seeds of Change" - packets of native plant seeds that include care instructions.

Currently in its second full semester, People for Pollinators is UE's largest ChangeLab with 16 students enrolled. The team is multidisciplinary, with students from biology, environmental science, communication, literature, psychology, and exercise science. Together, they have continued preparing Seeds for Change seed packets, raising awareness of native plants through social media and community events. Their efforts will culminate in the Spring 2023 Earth Day Celebration on UE's campus when native plants and seed packets will be given away free.

The work that Elyse has undertaken is immense and important. The community she has become a part of has been inspired and invigorated by her efforts. She recently was awarded the Community Conservationist Award from the Vanderburgh County Soil & Water Conservation District.

Changemaker Highlight of the Week: People for Pollinators

Biology student presents research at international conference

Posted: August 31, 2022

Senior Biology Major, Elyse Talley, presented research entitled “Diet mixing has a limited benefit for the generalist holoparasite, Cuscuta gronovii” at the joint meetings of the Ecological Society of America and the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution in Montreal, Canada. This research was a collaborative project with Dr. Cris G. Hochwender, Dr. E. Ann Powell and two UE graduates—Caitlin Caldwell & Darcie Smith.

A native plant parasite in SW Indiana, Cuscuta gronovii feeds on a range of native plants, including multiple species found in UE’s native plant garden (NPG). This research project took place in the experimental area of the NPG. UE’s NPG provides a venue where over 100 species of native flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees can be viewed. This native plant diversity has great value for several reasons, including support for native insects (including insect herbivores and pollinators). Elyse has extended her research to examine the bee and butterfly species associated with the native plant diversity found in the NPG. Next spring, Elyse will use her research experiences to lead an educational outreach experience via a changelab class—People for Pollinators. If you are interested in her changelab, in UE’s NPG, or in ecological restoration, please contact Dr. Cris Hochwender (ch81@xgcr.net) or Elyse Talley (et128@xgcr.net).

Biology student presents research at international conference

Dr. Aldred awarded Sadelle and Sydney Berger Award for Scholarly Activity

Posted: August 17, 2022

It is with great pleasure the University of Evansville Berger Award Committee confers the 2022 Berger Award for Scholarship to Dr. Katie Aldred-Craig.

Dr. Aldred-Craig has been an active participant in research starting very early in her career, in fact she was first published in 2009 as an undergraduate student at UE. The incorporation of research into the undergraduate experience is very important to Dr. Aldred-Craig and since her arrival to the UE Biology Department, she has mentored about two students each year for some type of research project. During her professional career, Dr. Aldred-Craig has published articles across a range of journals using various cellular, molecular, and organismal experimental protocols and some of her articles have been cited over one thousand times. As a faculty member in the Biology Department at UE, Dr. Aldred-Craig has established a strong research program and has collaborated with her colleagues in the Department of Biology. In fact, one of Dr. Aldred-Craig’s nominators provided the following narrative, “Dr. Aldred-Craig has co-authored a publication with UE professors Dale Edwards and Brian Ernsting (simultaneously) which should earn her some sort of extra meritorious service award”. Most would agree with that statement!

As a result of her exemplary research endeavors, Dr. Aldred-Craig and her students have presented their results at several regional and national conferences including the prestigious Gordon Research Seminars. At that conference in 2018, Dr. Aldred-Craig, along with three UE students, presented her research on DNA Topoisomerases in Biology and Medicine. The inclusion of students at a prominent conference is one example of Dr. Aldred-Craig’s commitment to undergraduate research opportunities and the overall mission of the university.

Therefore, based on her scholarly activities, the Berger Committee confers the Berger Award for Scholarship to Dr. Katie Aldred-Craig.

Below are some examples of Dr. Aldred-Craig’s publications:

K.J. Aldred, E.J. Breland, V. Vl?ková, S.A. McPherson, C.L. Turnbough, Jr., K.C. Neuman, R.J. Kerns, and N. Osheroff. (2014) Role of the Water-Metal Ion Bridge in Mediating Interactions between Quinolones and Escherichia coli Topoisomerase IV. Biochemistry, in press.

A.C. Ketron, K.J. Aldred, R.H. Lindsey, and N. Osheroff. (2014) “Gyrase and Topoisomerase IV as Targets for Antibacterial Drugs.” In The Encyclopedia of the Molecular Life Sciences (L. Kaguni, ed.) Springer, New York, in press.

Aldred KJ, Payne A, Voegerl O. A RADAR-Based Assay to Isolate Covalent DNA Complexes in Bacteria. Antibiotics. 2019; 8(1):17.

Katie J. Aldreda,1, Tim R. Blowerb,2, Robert J. Kernsc, James M. Bergerb,3, and Neil Osheroffa. Fluoroquinolone interactions with Mycobacterium tuberculosis gyrase: Enhancing drug activity against wild-type and resistant gyrase. PNAS, 113 (7) 2016.

Activity of quinolone CP-115,955 against bacterial and human type II topoisomerases is mediated by different interactions (2015). KJ Aldred, HA Schwanz, G Li, BH Williamson, SA McPherson, ...
Biochemistry 54 (5), 1278-1286

Gyrase and topoisomerase IV as targets for antibacterial drugs
AC Ketron, KJ Aldred, RH Lindsey, N Osheroff
Molecular Life Sciences: An Encyclopedic Reference, 1-5

Bacillus anthracis GrlAV96A Topoisomerase IV, a Quinolone Resistance Mutation That Does Not Affect the Water-Metal Ion Bridge
KJ Aldred, EJ Breland, SA McPherson, CL Turnbough Jr, RJ Kerns, ...
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 58 (12), 7182-7187

Role of the Water–Metal Ion Bridge in Mediating Interactions between Quinolones and Escherichia coli Topoisomerase IV
KJ Aldred, EJ Breland, V Vlc?kova?, MP Strub, KC Neuman, RJ Kerns, ...
Biochemistry 53 (34), 5558-5567

K.J. Aldred, R.J. Kerns, and N. Osheroff. (2014) Mechanism of Quinolone Action and Resistance. Invited Current Topics review article in Biochemistry, 53, 1565-1574.

K.J. Aldred, H.A. Schwanz, G. Li, S.A. McPherson, C.L. Turnbough, Jr., R.J. Kerns, and N. Osheroff. (2013) Overcoming Target-Mediated Quinolone Resistance in Topoisomerase IV by Introducing Metal-Ion-Independent Drug-Enzyme Interactions. ACS Chemical Biology, 8, 2660-2668.

K.J. Aldred, S.A. McPherson, C.L. Turnbough, Jr., R.J. Kerns, and N. Osheroff. (2013) Topoisomerase IV-quinolone interactions are mediated through a water-metal ion bridge: mechanistic basis of quinolone resistance. Nucleic Acids Research, 41, 4628-4639.

K.J. Aldred, S.A. McPherson, P. Wang, R.J. Kerns, D.E. Graves, C.L. Turnbough, Jr., and N. Osheroff. (2012) Drug Interactions with Bacillus anthracis Topoisomerase IV: Biochemical Basis for Quinolone Action and Resistance. Biochemistry, 51, 370-381.

BR Ernsting, DD Edwards, KJ Aldred, JS Fites, CR Neff (2009 Mitochondrial genome sequence of Unionicola foili (Acari: Unionicolidae): a unique gene order with implications for phylogenetic inference
Experimental and Applied Acarology 49 (4), 305-316

N Byars, A Rohde, K Aldred, H Kalb ., Effects of Incubation Temperature on Incubation Duration and Hatchling Fitness in Malayan Box Turtles (Cuora amboinensis)

Dr. Aldred awarded Sadelle and Sydney Berger Award for Scholarly Activity

Faculty Receive Teaching Certificates and Awards

Posted: May 11, 2022

The Eykamp Center for Teaching Excellence offers certificates to faculty members who meet the requirements of engagement and participation in ECTE sponsored events.

Congratulations to the following faculty who earned a certificate or award for the 2021-2022 academic year, demonstrating exceptional dedication to pedagogy.

New Faculty Engagement Certificate:

  • Erik Brown
  • Meghan Buchta
  • Jill Mason
  • Charlene Nolan
  • Melissa Heffner
  • Hyunjae Jeon
  • Shari Millikan

Teaching Development Certificate:

  • Lisa Hale
  • Diana Rodriguez Quevedo
  • Alison Jones
  • Omid Khormali
  • Sara Petrosillo
  • Cris Hochwender

Leadership in Teaching Excellence Award:
Awarded annually to one faculty member demonstrating exceptional dedication to pedagogy through ECTE activities.

  • Diana Rodriguez Quevedo

Dr. Merkle awarded Class of 1961 Faculty Fellowship

Posted: April 13, 2022

Congratulations to Dr. Vincent Campese, assistant professor of Psychology, and Dr. Julie Merkle, assistant professor of Biology, for receiving the Class of 1961 Faculty Fellowship Awards.

The award was established with gifts and pledges from the members of the Class of 1961 for pre-tenured faculty to provide support for their research projects.

Biology students present research at Midwest Fly Meeting

Posted: October 28, 2021

Biology majors McKenzie Young, Makayla Gomperts, and Audrey Chambers presented the results of their summer research projects at the 2021 Midwest Drosophila meeting on October 23-24.

McKenzie and Makayla were mentored by Dr. Julie Merkle.

McKenzie's poster, "Investigating the role of short stop (shot) in eye development and oogenesis" received an Honorable Mention in the undergraduate student poster category.
Makayla's poster was titled "Sar1, a GTPase involved in COPII vesicle trafficking, is important for oocyte fate in Drosophila".

Audrey was mentored by Dr. Joyce Stamm. Her project, "A Flp/FRT eye screen on chromosome 2L identifies enhancers and suppressors of the mosaic AIF phenotype" was performed in collaboration with Dr. Jacob Kagey and his students at University of Detroit Mercy.

Dr. Gordon awarded Sadelle and Sydney Berger Award for Scholarly Activity

Posted: August 18, 2021

The University of Evansville Berger Award Committee awarded the Berger Award for Scholarship to Dr. Noah Gordon. Dr. Gordon has a strong publication record and has published articles across a range of journals. His work has centered on acoustic calling in treefrogs, but he has expanded his publication research to compliment scholarly work within UE’s biology department, working on evolution and parasitism questions with Dr. Dale Edwards and other colleagues on the potential influence of parasites on range expansion in treefrogs.

During his time at UE, Dr. Gordon has integrated students into his research. He has developed a project with students in collaboration with the Gobabeb Research and Training Center in Gobabeb, Namibia to determine environmental cues that trigger male breeding activity in geckos (Ptenopus and Stenodactylylus). This work can help to better understand the roles that communication plays in the evolution of new species. Part of this work was done using a gecko robot designed and built with assistance from Newburgh, Indiana based CIHOLAS Engineering Company. The work in Namibia has allowed multiple students to develop research projects and at least six student presentations have resulted from this work.

Dr. Gordon has developed a research project associated with a course he teaches in Costa Rica. This project provides students with the opportunity to take leadership roles in tropical research. In addition, the tropical experience allows other students to participate in that type of research and engages them in ways that tie into restoration ecology questions. His work in these fields along with his research, publications, presentations, and influential research guidance with students has been exemplary.

Dr. Gordon awarded Sadelle and Sydney Berger Award for Scholarly Activity

Dr. Stamm awarded 2021 Eykamp Prize

Posted: May 11, 2021

Congratulations to Dr. Joyce Stamm, professor of biology, who has been named the 2021 recipient of the Eykamp Prize!

Through the generosity of the Eykamp Family, an award for members of the faculty was created to recognize faculty members who have displayed extraordinary service to the University of Evansville. Recipients of this award are nominated by members of the campus community for inspiring students and providing a platform upon which they can explore and develop innovative ideas; for going above and beyond their regular classroom duties to interact with budding, talented young adults; for bringing positive awareness to the University; and for having a track record of program recruitment and commitment to student success.

Dr. Stamm has been dedicated to creating a high-quality student learning experience since her arrival to UE 16 years ago. She has developed and modernized curriculum for freshman biology classes, which has positively impacted students across all majors. Additionally, she has been instrumental in bringing research opportunities into the classroom. Dr. Stamm developed a Genomics in Research and Medicine course, in which students could contribute to large, distributed projects in genomics. As a result, she helped 33 students become authors of research publications.

Dr. Stamm has been closely involved with several large-scale projects on a national level, which focus on genomics and microbiology. Through her work, she has been able to expand the research opportunities for her students and equip them with experience necessary for graduate learning and careers in STEM – or science, technology, engineering, and math. 

Last fall, Dr. Stamm was awarded a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for a three-year, genetics-focused research initiative. Additionally, she served as a principal writer and developer for two of the largest federal grants in UE history.

Dr. Stamm is creating a long-lasting impact on the University by increasing student interest and retention in the field of biology. As future generations explore UE, they will see the vast opportunities for collaborative research projects that are available to students, thanks to the hard work and contributions of Dr. Stamm. 

Dr. Stamm awarded 2021 Eykamp Prize

Dr. Merkle awarded 2021 Outstanding Teacher Award

Posted: May 11, 2021

Congratulations to Dr. Julie Merkle, assistant professor of biology, who was named the 2021 Outstanding Teacher at our 163rd Commencement!

Dr. Merkle is highly revered by students and colleagues alike. Her academic skills sets combined with her "warm, nurturing personality make her an ideal candidate for this award."

Her students support this claim, with one student stating that "this professor is by far one of the most caring and available professors that they have ever encountered. She makes time for students as often as possible and creates a positive environment for learning."

Dr. Merkle's peers say she has proven to be an essential member of the University when it comes to student recruitment and retention, and they often showcase her talents during student recruiting events.

Dr. Merkle awarded 2021 Outstanding Teacher Award

Dr. Hochwender Presents on the Importance of Native Plants to Sustain Biodiversity

Posted: January 8, 2021

As part of a pollinator workshop for the Warrick County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), UE’s own Dr. Cris Hochwender gave a presentation on using native plants to sustain biodiversity entitled “Choosing plants to sustain wildlife: plants that enhance diversity by defending against herbivores and feeding pollinators.”

The video can be watched on YouTube. He suggests that at 2x speed, the video is almost bearable. Two other talks as part of Warrick County SWCD’s workshop can be found at:

Dr. Cris Hochwender has carried out ecological research for 25+ years, and he has developed UE’s Native Plant Garden provides a venue where over 100 species of native flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees can be viewed. This native plant diversity has great value for several reasons, including beneficial ecosystem services through improved ground water storage, support for native insects (including insect herbivores and pollinators), and the food resources to other animals (e.g., birds via seeds and/or prey items). Unfortunately, habitat destruction has led to the loss of wetlands, prairies, and forests, resulting in reduced numbers of native plant species. As one would expect, the loss of floral diversity has caused a reduction in the number of herbivores and pollinators, and a reduction in ecosystem services. The University of Evansville’s native plant garden represents one effort to restore native plants. Native plants are valuable as host plants for butterfly larvae, as well as beneficial to native bee pollinators. Bees are of special note because native bees are in critical need of help because of habitat loss and pesticides. Moreover, bees are wonderfully diverse, partitioning their niche space based on nesting habit, tongue length, and body size/color. Just in Indiana, 416 species of bees occur, including species from six different families.

You can begin your native plant garden or enhance the native garden you already have. In an effort to encourage homeowners to plant native plants, Warrick County SWCD is selling native plants inexpensively. Orders forms can be found online, but must be submitted by January 15, 2021.

Contact Cris Hochwender (ch81@xgcr.net) if you have any questions about the native plant garden or restoration efforts at UE.

UE Professor Awarded $300,000 NSF Grant for Genetics Research

Posted: October 30, 2020

Joyce Stamm, PhD, professor of biology at the University of Evansville (UE), was recently awarded a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant, in which Stamm is a co-principal investigator, will be applied over three years to an ongoing genetics-focused research initiative. 

The collaborative project, titled “A Multi-Institutional Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience in Genetics,” is led by Jacob Kagey, PhD, at the University of Detroit Mercy and has co-principal investigators from a total of four institutions, including UE. The grant funds plan to expand the research project to a total of 20 institutions. The overall goal is to make research experiences more accessible for students historically underrepresented in biomedical research. This includes programs at community colleges and universities with large minority populations. 

The grant is part of NSF’s Improving Undergraduate STEM Education program, which seeks to enhance STEM education for undergraduate students by utilizing alternative methods to teaching and learning. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in jobs related to STEM – or science, technology, engineering, and math – continues to be a rapidly growing, in-demand field.  

Stamm, who has worked with Kagey on the project since 2016, incorporates a semester-long research project into her genetics course. Participating students map genetic mutations that cause tumor formation in fruit flies. These mutations can offer clues as to what goes wrong in similar diseases among humans. To date, two papers have been published describing the results of this work.  

Over the last five years, nearly 100 students have benefitted from the research experience in genetics courses taught by Stamm and Julie Merkle, PhD, assistant professor of biology. Stamm said she is excited to continue this initiative and provide impactful opportunities for future biology students. 

“I have a passion for developing college courses with opportunities for conducting original research because it increases student interest and retention in STEM majors and careers,” said Stamm. “Collaborative projects like this grant project are highly beneficial in higher education because they provide important infrastructure and support for professors. We can then turn around and pass on these opportunities to our students.” 

In the past, Stamm has taken advantage of large national projects in genomics and microbiology to incorporate research projects into introductory and advanced courses. Now, she is excited to “pay it forward” through her direct involvement in this project, which will expand research opportunities for future students. 

Biology students present research at Society for Developmental Biology Meeting

Posted: July 22, 2020

Biology students Gregory (Skip) Maas ('20) and Corinne Croslyn ('21) each presented posters of their research at the annual Society for Developmental Biology meeting held July 9-15, 2020. Croslyn was awarded the 3rd place award for “Best Undergraduate Student Poster”.

These research projects were performed in the lab of Dr. Julie Merkle (Department of Biology) and explore the cellular events of egg production.

Faculty Honored at Celebration of Teaching Excellence

Posted: May 8, 2019

The First Annual Celebration of Teaching Excellence was held on Monday, May 6, and honored faculty teaching accomplishments and activities in pedagogical development during the academic year. This was the first year that the Eykamp Center for Teaching Excellence offered two certificates for faculty members who met requirements of engagement and participation in ECTE sponsored events.

Faculty members earning the 2018-2019 New Faculty Engagement Certificate were:
Alison Jones, Lecturer/Transition to Teaching Coordinator, School of Education
Julie Merkle, Assistant Professor of Biology, Department of Biology
Sara Petrosillo, Assistant Professor of English, Department of English

Faculty members earning the 2018-2019 Teaching Development Certificate were:
Heather Fenton, Assistant Professor of Management, Schroeder School of Business Administration
Lisa Marie Hale, Assistant Professor of Education, School of Education
Jessie Lofton, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Mary Lombardo-Graves, Assistant Professor of Special Education, School of Education
Diana Rodríguez Quevedo, Associate Professor of Spanish, Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures

Finally, the inaugural Leadership in Teaching Excellence Award was presented to Diana Rodríguez Quevedo, Associate Professor of Spanish, for her commitment to her personal teaching development, supporting the growth of others, and strengthening teaching excellence across the campus community.

Congratulations and thank you to all of our faculty colleagues for their commitment to teaching excellence at the University of Evansville!

The Celebration of Teaching Excellence was hosted by the Eykamp Center for Teaching Excellence and made possible with the generous support of Rita and Richard Eykamp.

Monarch and Milkweed Changelab Shares Knowledge and Milkweed Plants

Posted: May 1, 2019

The Monarchs and Milkweed Changelab team have finished their last event - a milkweed give-away at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve.

While at nature center of WWNP, the team gifted the attendees with native milkweed plants and played a monarch game with kids who attended. In addition, the team shared seeds of native plants that can be grown in people’s backyards. The seeds given away came from UE’s Native Plant Garden, which provides a venue where over 100 species of native flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees.

Native plant diversity has great value for several reasons, including beneficial ecosystem services through improved ecosystem function, support for native insects (including insect herbivores and pollinators), and the food resources to other animals (e.g., birds via seeds and/or prey items). Unfortunately, habitat destruction has led to the loss of wetlands, prairies, and forests, resulting in reduced numbers of native plant species. As one would expect, the loss of floral diversity has caused a reduction in the number of herbivores and pollinators, and a reduction in ecosystem services. Every action you take to grow your own native plants will help butterflies, bees, and birds.

To see a video story on this subject, please go here.

Hochwender teaches in I-DNR's Community Urban Forestry Program

Posted: April 12, 2019

University of Evansville professor of biology Cris Hochwender recently taught tree identification to a group of community members at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve as part of their training to become tree stewards.

The Indiana Community Tree Steward Program was offered for the first time in Evansville this year. Participants learn tree identification, the basics of urban tree care, and how to communicate the benefits of urban trees. Attendees are asked to then use their skills by volunteering 15 hours of service to local communities to improve or maintain the urban forest.

Indiana Division of Forestry's Community Urban Forestry Program provides guidance to communities for development and caretaking of urban forests. An urban tree canopy is part of a community’s infrastructure and creates valuable environmental, economic, and social benefits. Well-managed urban forests pay back nearly three times the cost to plant and maintain them. More than 80 percent of the urban forest is in our own back yard. As society becomes more urbanized and sprawls into rural areas, forests, wooded edges, and woodlots in urban areas are an increasingly important resource.

UE students to make presentation on decline of monarch butterflies and milkweed

Posted: March 19, 2019

Students from the University of Evansville will be discussing the “Decline of the Monarch Butterfly and Milkweed Populations” on Saturday, March 30, at John James Audubon State Park. The presentation begins at 2:00 p.m. in the Audubon Museum Theatre. The students will focus on the impact that the decline of native plants, specifically milkweed, has on the environment, and the importance of maintaining native pollinator gardens

Free milkweed plants will be given out to attendees of the presentation.

Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. To reserve your spot, call 270-826-2247, ext. 228, or email lisa.hoffman@ky.gov.

This lecture is part of the Nature Notes Lecture Series presented by Friends of Audubon.

John James Audubon State Park is located at 3100 US Hwy 41 North, in Henderson, Kentucky.

Edwards to speak at Science with a Twist

Posted: March 18, 2019

Dale Edwards, University of Evansville professor of biology, will be the guest speaker at the March Science with a Twist lecture. Science with a Twist is a science outreach program that invites local scientists to speak about a topic in science of interest to them.

The lecture is Wednesday, March 20, at 6:30 p.m. at Bokeh Lounge, 1007 Parrett Street at Haynie’s Corner.

The topic of Edwards' lecture will be "Freshwater Mussels of North America: Stories of Pearls, Peril, and Providence."

The event is free and open to the public.

Biology professors teach for Master Naturalists

Posted: March 6, 2019

University of Evansville biology professors Dale Edwards and Cris Hochwender have reached out to the Evansville community by teaching courses for the Indiana Master Naturalist program.

This program brings together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana's plants, waters, soils and wildlife and to promote volunteer service in local communities. People with a passion for the natural world can take this opportunity to build their knowledge and skills.

Topics of Edwards’ and Hochwender’s classes included the ecological framework for the program and the negative impacts of human activity on natural resources.

Jim Brenneman, emeritus faculty member from the biology department, will teach a class on fungi for the Master Naturalist Program. Hochwender will teach a second class in the program - one on tree identification.

For more information on next year’s Master Naturalist Program, contact Gena Garrett at ggarrett@wesselmannaturesociety.org.

Biology professor and students publish research

Posted: February 25, 2019

University of Evansville assistant professor of biology Katie Aldred '09, UE senior Olivia Voegerl (biology and exercise science double major), and UE sophomore Addie Payne (biology major) recently had their research article titled "A RADAR-based Assay to Isolate Covalent DNA Complexes in Bacteria" accepted for publication in the open access peer-reviewed journal Antibiotics.

This work was completed in Summer and Fall 2018 with funding through UExplore. This “bacterial RADAR assay” will be used to study type II topoisomerase-mediated resistance to the quinolone antibacterials in the cellular context. Furthermore, this assay provides a valuable tool to assess quinolone and quinolone-like compounds that may be developed in efforts toward overcoming resistance to this important drug class and can also be used for intracellular studies of other proteins that covalently attach to DNA in bacteria.

UE CiSM Project Receives $1 Million Grant for Scholarships from the NSF S-STEM Program

Posted: February 11, 2019

The University of Evansville’s Computers in Science and Math (CiSM) project has been awarded a grant totaling $999,934 to fund scholarships for academically talented students with financial need majoring in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, environmental science, mathematics, physics, or statistics and data science.

The project, funded by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program, is led by UE faculty members Joyce Stamm, professor of biology; Angela Reisetter, associate professor of physics; Adam Salminen, associate professor of mathematics; and Sarah Wilson, assistant professor of chemistry.

The CiSM scholarships will be available beginning in the fall 2020 semester and will provide up to $10,000 per year for four years to two cohorts of seven or eight students. These students will be part of an interdisciplinary learning community established through an all-expenses paid bridge course during the summer before the freshman year, and maintained as the students live together in UE’s honors residence hall and enroll together in computational problem-solving courses. CiSM students will also receive summer research and conference attendance funds, and CiSM-specific academic advising, career preparation, and mentoring.

 “This interdisciplinary cohort approach will prepare our students for a real work setting, where biologists and mathematicians may work alongside chemists and physicists toward a common goal,” said Stamm. “The interpersonal skills developed from living and working together are just as, if not more, important than the technical skills gained through coursework. It allows them to learn to speak the same language.” 

Reisetter added, “Computational problem-solving skills are not currently emphasized in UE’s math and science curriculum, so we’re particularly excited to develop additional talents in our students, which will translate into broader career opportunities and workplace success upon graduation.”

To develop these skills, the project will introduce a scaffolded curriculum with four interdisciplinary computational problem-solving courses. The first three courses will focus on the power of computational and data visualization skills in the sciences, and introduce students to interesting data-centric scientific projects. The fourth course will be part of the UE ChangeLab program and will pair student and faculty teams with local business or nonprofit clients. Students will work with the clients to solve a problem involving experimental design, data collection, and/or data analysis. Because these courses will be open to all math and science majors at UE, the CiSM project will have impact beyond the scholarship recipients.

“The digital revolution has allowed scientists and businesses to collect vast quantities of data,” said Salminen. “Marketing firms, educators, and sports teams have gleaned knowledge and insights from this data for application to business techniques for many years. Of particular importance here is the growing need of these skills in the sciences.”

Data scientists and statisticians work to develop new statistical approaches and develop new software and techniques of analysis. However, scientist in other areas such as genomics, particle physics, and neuroscience need to use these techniques to unravel the massive amounts of data that they collect. Moving forward, scientists will need to have a better understanding of working with large data, and statisticians and mathematicians, with proper training and interest, can help tackle difficult problems throughout the sciences.

In line with the NSF’s mission to improve STEM undergraduate education, another important goal of the project is to determine the impacts of the learning community on CiSM scholars.

“We will assess each of the project’s activities using a mixed-methods approach, to examine how involvement in the CiSM community affects students’ science and mathematics self-efficacy, sense of community, retention, success, and progression to STEM careers,” said Wilson. “We hope that the CiSM project will serve as a model for interdisciplinary STEM education at institutions similar to UE.”

UE CiSM Project Receives $1 Million Grant for Scholarships from the NSF S-STEM Program

Environmental Awareness Week: November 5-11

Posted: November 5, 2018

The University of Evansville's ECO Club presents Environmental Awareness Week November 5-11, 2018.

Stainless steel reusable straws will be sold at the information tables in Ridgway University Center at the times listed below for $1.00 each or 5 straws for $4.00.

The full schedule of events is as follows: 

Monday, November 5: 
5:00-6:00 p.m.: Glass Recycling Awareness, Ridgway University Center Tables
5:00 p.m.: SAB Trivia Night: Environmental Theme, Cafe Court

Tuesday, November 6: 
5:00-6:00 p.m.: Glass Recycling Awareness, Ridgway University Center Tables
7:00 p.m.: Levy Schroeder speaks about Wesselman Nature Preserve, Koch 100

Wednesday, November 7: 
5:00-6:00 p.m.: Food Waste Awareness, Ridgway University Center Tables

Thursday, November 8: 
12:00-1:00 p.m.: Energy Waste Awareness Day, Ridgway University Center Tables
Wear GREEN to support environmental awareness! 

Friday, November 9:
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.: Air Pollution Awareness, Ridgway University Center Tables

Sunday, November 11: 
1:00-3:00 p.m.: Make your own FREE reusable, no-sew t-shirt bag, SOBA 162
T-shirts are being collected at a donation box beside the information desk in Ridgway throughout the week. Extra bags will be donated to organizations in the community. 

UE Recognized for Affordability, Student Benefits, and Innovation on Several Top College Lists

Posted: September 20, 2018

The University of Evansville was recently named to several top university rankings, including those by Princeton Review, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, and Money. These commendations are in addition to those from U.S. News & World Report earlier this month.

Forbes magazine again named UE to its Top College list. The Forbes Top Colleges ranking focuses on direct benefits a college provides students. Student experience is an important criteria and is based on freshman-to-sophomore retention rate and data.

UE was also highly rated by Niche, which uses survey information from current students and recent alumni to rate schools and give them a letter grade. The University was given a grade of A minus overall and an A minus in the areas of academics and student life. UE received an A grade in both diversity and value.

Niche named UE as one of the Top Private Universities in America list and one of Best Colleges in America, Best Colleges in Indiana, and Best Value College in America.

The Princeton Review college rankings listed UE as a Best Midwestern school in its Best Colleges: Region by Region category. Only 159 colleges were on this list of premier colleges. Schools chosen are considered “academically outstanding and well worth consideration.” Rankings are based on what students attending the reviewed colleges say about their experiences at their institutions.

UE has been named one of the Best Colleges for Your Money for 2018 by Money magazine. Money uses research and advice from the nation’s top experts on education quality, financing, and value to create a practical analysis of the nation’s best-performing colleges. Schools were ranked in quality of education, affordability, and outcomes, including graduate earnings.

College Factual listed UE in 11 awards categories, including Best for Your Money, ranking in the top 15 percent of that category. College Factual compares the quality of education at a given college, compared to all others on the list. Factors include student body caliber, educational resources, degree completion, and post-graduation earnings.

UE was also recognized as a top school for hands-on learning. The Wall Street Journal named the University as the number 34 best college for student engagement and U.S. News called UE one of the most innovative schools in the Midwest.

U.S. News & World Report also recently named UE a Best Midwest Value in its annual Best Colleges rankings and as one of the Best Regional Universities: Midwest.

Biology professor and student present research

Posted: August 20, 2018

Katie Aldred ’09, University of Evansville assistant professor of biology, and Remi Hoerr, senior biology major, recently attended and presented their research at the Gordon Research Seminar on DNA Topoisomerases in Biology and Medicine. 

Hoerr’s poster was titled “Quinolone-Topoisomearse Interactions and Resistance: Does the Water-Metal Ion Bridge Play a Role in Staphylococcus aureus topoisomerase IV?” Aldred’s poster was titled “Development, Optimization, and Implementation of an Assay to Measure Intracellular Cleavage Complex Formation in Bacteria.”

Two biology students were co-authors on the poster presented by Aldred - Olivia Voegerl, senior biology and exercise science major, and Addie Payne, sophomore biology major.

Both research projects were funded through UExplore. The Gordon Research Conference and Seminar series provides an international forum for the presentation and discussion of frontier research in the biological, chemical, and physical sciences, and their related technologies with a focus on presentation and discussion of pre-publication research.

UE to Welcome Dr. Jim A. Turpin for February 22 Lecture - A Journey: Monocytes, HIV Prevention, and UE

Posted: February 15, 2018

The University of Evansville will welcome Jim A. Turpin, PhD, from the National Institutes of Health for a free public lecture on Thursday, February 22 at 4:00 p.m. in Vectren Lecture Hall, room 100 of the Koch Center for Engineering and Science on UE’s campus.

Turpin’s lecture, titled A Journey: Monocytes, HIV Prevention, and UE. will be part of a three-day campus visit hosted by the departments of biology and public health at UE. Turpin is a 1980 alumnus of UE’s biology department.

As a program officer and branch chief at NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Turpin conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand and ultimately prevent a HIV/AIDS infection. Turpin conducts and supports basic and applied research focused on developing new and better methods for prevention of HIV/AIDS transmission in healthy uninfected adolescents, men and women.

Turpin’s responsibilities at the NIAID include oversight and management of the preclinical non-vaccine biomedical prevention preclinical program.  He is the program officer and contact for the following grant programs: Integrated Preclinical/Clinical Program for HIV Topical Microbicides (IPCP-HTM), Prevention Innovation Program (PIP), Mucosal Environment and HIV Prevention Program (MEHP), Sustained Release Antiretrovirals for HIV Treatment and Prevention (SRATP), and Risk of Adolescence and Injury in HIV Susceptibility (RAIS). He is the lead for the DAIDS Non-vaccine Biomedical Prevention Sustained Release and Multipurpose Prevention Technologies programs.  His branch also oversees the Comprehensive Resources for HIV Topical Microbicide and Biomedical Prevention (CRMP) contract, which supports provision of gap-filling resources for topical microbicide and prevention development for product sponsors and best practice working groups.

For more information, contact Dale Edwards, Department of Biology, University of Evansville, de3@xgcr.net. 

Davis selected to NCAA research committee

Posted: January 8, 2018

Mark Davis, University of Evansville associate of biology, has been selected to the NCAA Innovations in Research and Practice Grant Program Committee.

The NCAA Innovations in Research and Practice Grant Program supports research and data-driven pilot projects designed to enhance student-athlete psychosocial well-being and mental health.

Research topics may include, but are not limited to, managing transitions (e.g., from recruit to first-year student; transferring between universities; adapting from youth sports to college sports environment; developing independence from parents), identity development, stress management, substance use, bystander intervention, cultivating healthy relationships, career exploration, and sport exit strategies.

Funded projects must demonstrate potential to result in campus-level programming that can positively impact the well-being of NCAA student-athletes at a range of member institutions.

Edwards lectures at Colgate University

Posted: October 19, 2017

Dale Edwards, University of Evansville professor and chair of biology, was recently invited to give a lecture at Colgate University about his research on the evolutionary ecology of parasitic water mites. Edwards is coauthor of a book about water mites titled Mites of Freshwater Mollusks.

Biology students' frog research makes journal front cover

Posted: September 11, 2017

University of Evansville biology students Kane Stratman and Maddie Ralph recently had their work on the impacts of range expansion in green treefrogs published in the peer-reviewed journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. Their work was also selected to provide the cover image. UE associate professor of biology Noah Gordon was listed as a co-author.

Biology students present research at conference

Posted: September 7, 2017

Biology students Josh Baty and Liz Daugherty presented the results of their summer research at the KUH Summer Undergraduate Research Conference held August 2-4 in Bethesda, Maryland.

The titles of their research presentations were Rho Kinase Inhibitor, Y-27632 Plays a Role in L-Type Calcium Channel Signaling, and G Protein Estrogen Receptor Facilitates Renal Protection in Females Through Eliciting a More Enhanced Natriuretic Response, respectively. The research was conducted at the University of Alabama-Birmingham during the summer of 2017 and was supported by NIH grants awarded to David and Jennifer Pollock (’78).

Edwards and Gordon publish research article

Posted: August 21, 2017

Dale Edwards and Noah Gordon along with Anne Steele (’13) from the Department of Biology had an article published in the current volume of Journal of Parasitology. Edwards is chair of UE's Department of Biology, and Gordon is an associate professor of biology at UE

The paper titled “A Comparison of Helminth Faunas of Cope's Gray (Hyla chrysoscelis) and Green (Hyla cinerea) Treefrogs in Areas of Recent Niche Overlap” underscores the role of parasites in the successful range expansion of green treefrogs into native habitats of closely related gray treefrogs.

Hochwender to speak at Science with a Twist

Posted: August 9, 2017

Professor of biology Cris Hochwender will be speaking at Bokeh Lounge on Wednesday. August 16, at 6:30 p.m. His talk will be on loss of habitat and the survival of native species.

His talk is part of a series called Science with a Twist, a novel forum to learn about cutting-edge topics in science and technology from leading experts.

Mitch Luman from Evansville Museum has created this forum to provide an interactive, informal atmosphere where there’s no such thing as a dumb question.

Everyone has fun at Science with a Twist, from those completely unfamiliar with science to self-identified “science geeks.”

Science with a Twist is open to anyone and everyone. Join us at the Bokeh Lounge, have a beverage, and feed your mind. The night will include science trivia, a time to socialize, and an opportunity to talk about what we can all do to help the survival of native species.

Biology professor Cris Hochwender leads community outreach at Vectren Conservation Park

Posted: July 25, 2017

On Saturday, July 22, professor of biology Cris Hochwender took a group of naturalists from the Southwest Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society (SWINPAWS) to Vectren Conservation Park, to explore issues in restoration ecology.

The group discussed the ongoing efforts to restore the flood plain habitat at VCP, a 1,100 acre property of bottomland along the Wabash River. In 2007, Vectren gave the University of Evansville a long-term lease on VCP.

VCP had been used for agriculture, but is now in a permanent conservation easement and is enrolled in the US Natural Resource Conservation Service's Wetlands Reserve program. Before leasing the property to UE, Vectren planted more than 100,000 native trees and shrubs on the property.

Conservation efforts at the site include trying to restore riparian forests, floodplain forests, as well as meadows and aquatic habitats. This site not only provides opportunities for environmental studies majors to explore a diverse set of Indiana communities, but also acts as a research lab to explore environmental questions, carry out ecological research, and evaluate soil and water chemistry.

Plants from UE's Native Plant garden used at WWNP

Posted: June 22, 2017

The University of Evansville's own Native Plant Garden in Koch Courtyard was used as a plant source for species used in Wesselman Woods’ new Pollinator Garden, one of that nature preserve’s newest educational outreach efforts.

UE’s Native Plant Garden contains over 100 plant species that are native to Southwest Indiana. Come visit the native plant garden throughout the summer, while it undergoes a facelift.

Contact Cris Hochwender (ch81@xgcr.net) if you have any questions about the native plant garden or restoration efforts at UE.

Biol 119 and Biol 299 research presented at HHMI symposium

Posted: June 20, 2017

UE students Humza Khan and Lauren Roberts attended the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's ninth annual SEA-PHAGES symposium at the HHMI Janelia Research Campus, where they presented a poster titled "Craff-ting our phage: isolation and annotation of Craff."

This poster summarized research performed by the students in Biol 119H and Biol 299 during the 2016-17 school year.

Students in Biol 119H isolated, purified, and characterized bacteriophages that infect soil bacteria, and students in Biol 299 examined and annotated the genome sequence of one of these bacteriophages.

In addition to Humza and Lauren, the poster was also co-authored by Shane Bentsen, Makayla Claiborne, Skip Maas, Anna McGriff, Émile Moura Coelho da Silva, Sanjana Sai, and Brett Weinzapfel. This course-based research project was led by associate professors of biology Ann Powell and Joyce Stamm.

Biol 119 and Biol 299 research presented at HHMI symposium

Students from UE biology classes present research at HHMI symposium

Posted: June 13, 2017

University of Evansville students Humza Khan and Lauren Roberts recently attended the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's ninth annual SEA-PHAGES symposium at the HHMI Janelia Research Campus. They presented a poster titled "Craff-ting our phage: isolation and annotation of Craff."

This poster summarized research performed by the students in the classes Biology 119H and Biology 299 during the 2016-17 school year.

Students in Biology 119H isolated, purified, and characterized bacteriophages that infect soil bacteria, and students in Biology 299 examined and annotated the genome sequence of one of these bacteriophages.

In addition to Humza and Lauren, the poster was also co-authored by Shane Bentsen, Makayla Claiborne, Skip Maas, Anna McGriff, Émile Moura Coelho da Silva, Sanjana Sai, and Brett Weinzapfel. This course-based research project was led by UE associate professors of biology Ann Powell and Joyce Stamm.

UE biology and environmental science students publish in PIAS

Posted: June 13, 2017

Research by Andrew Nunn, Michelle Sonnenberger, and Matt Roberts – under the direction of professor of biology Cris Hochwender - was published in the most recent volume of the Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science. Nunn and Sonnenberger are graduating senior biology majors and Roberts graduated from UE with a degree in environmental science in 2016.

Their study suggests that deer may prevent tree species from transitioning above browse-level and into the mid-story strata. Given time, these changes could lead to a loss of diversity in the canopy, as replacement will consist of only those few species which escape deer browse. In addition, their research suggests that pawpaws may limit access of many tree species into the overstory.

The loss of diversity in the forest community could cause wide-ranging alterations in the forest community.

The study has helped to launch a long-term, manipulative experiment examining the importance of both deer browsing and pawpaw on forest regeneration at WWNP

UE biology students receive awards

Posted: May 1, 2017

The University of Evansville Biology Awards Reception was held on April 26 to honor the outstanding achievements of UE biology students during the 2016-17 academic year.

The James A. Brenneman Student Service Award in Biology was given to Brooke Wininger, and the Patricia L. Akrabawi Teaching Assistant Award in Biology was presented to Andrew Nunn. These awards are named in honor of retired professor Jim Brenneman and Pat Akrabawi, respectively, for their long and generous commitment to UE biology students.

The Jerry T. Seng Freshman Biology Award recognizes retired faculty member Jerry Seng for his years of tireless devotion to the success of biology students, especially the freshmen class. The recipient of the most outstanding freshmen award was Skip Maas.

Colton Houchin received the David and Jennifer Pollock Sophomore Biology Award, named in honor of David and Jennifer Pollock (’78) for their generous support and contributions to the biology department.

Josh Baty received the P. “Louie” Winternheimer Junior Biology Award, named in memory of Louie Winternheimer for his 39 years of distinguished teaching and service at UE.

The outstanding senior award is named in honor of UE benefactors Dr. and Mrs. Robertson. The Charles and Patricia Robertson Senior Biology Award was presented to Shelly Sonnenberger.

Gordon publishes research study on finding signal in noisy environments

Posted: April 27, 2017

Noah Gordon, associate professor of biology, recently published a paper in collaboration with biologists from Washington University and the University of Minnesota on the information female frogs use to orient toward desirable noise.

The paper, titled “The signal in noise: acoustic information for soundscape orientation in two North American treefrogs,” was published in the peer-reviewed journal Behavioral Ecology.

Biology alumnus publishes research article

Posted: November 17, 2016

Mackenzie Powell '15 is the coauthor of a paper titled "Activation of Neuronal Endothelin B Receptors Mediates Pressor Response through Alpha-1 Adrenergic Receptors" that was recently accepted for publication in the journal Physiological Reports. This paper is based on Powell's summer undergraduate research experience in David Pollock's '78 lab in the Division of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

UE biology and physics professors engage students in EVSC STEM test

Posted: September 14, 2016

New Tech Institute in Evansville recently hosted a STEM (science, tech, engineering, and math) Fest to engage high school students and the community in these disciplines. UE professors Angie Reisetter, Joyce Stamm, Ann Powell, and Noah Gordon helped kids visualize their voices and see in the infrared.

These techniques were used to connect kids to UE faculty research in energy conservation and wildlife.

The students' activities included painting on their skin with ice - visible in the infrared - and seeing how well they could imitate a frog call.

Biology professor gives keynote address

Posted: August 23, 2016

Katie Aldred '09, assistant professor of biology, recently attended the Gordon Research Seminar and Conference on DNA Topoisomerases in Biology and Medicine at Sunday River in Newry, Maine. She was invited to give the keynote address at the seminar. She also sat on a career panel.

Aldred’s keynote address focused on her path to becoming a member of the faculty at UE and the UExplore-funded summer research on quinolone interactions with E. coli gyrase that she conducted this summer with biology students Hannah Carter and Baylee Wildman. The panel focused on various career paths that can be taken that maintain a focus on topoisomerase research and where the future of the topoisomerase field lies.

The Gordon Research Conferences and Seminars provide an international forum for the presentation and discussion of frontier research in the biological, chemical, and physical sciences, and their related technologies, with a focus on presentation and discussion of pre-publication research.

UE student and alum have article published in Life Sciences

Posted: August 19, 2016

An article by UE student Choudhury (Spike) Yusuf, a biology and neuroscience major with a minor in ethics, and David Pollock '78 has been published in Life Sciences. The article is titled Ovarian hormones modulate endothelin A and B receptor expression

This work was done during Yusuf's 2015 summer research experience in Pollock's lab.  Pollock is a professor in the Division of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Pollock, who earned a Bachelor’ of Science in biology at UE, is a world-renowned scientist whose research program addresses questions related to mechanisms of endothelin control of renal hemodynamics and excretory function.

Cris Hochwender Helps Plant Educational Experience at Local School

Posted: May 13, 2016

Using a gift of diverse native plants from the Native Plant Garden in the Koch Center for Engineering and Science Courtyard, professor of biology Cris Hochwender has collaborated with Gena Garrett, education program coordinator for Wesselman Nature Society on her Serve Indiana grant.

Together with Harper Elementary School, Garrett is establishing several plots of native plants to help elementary students engage in outdoor ecological experiences. By establishing gardens in the school’s yard, children will be able to see the wildlife that utilizes a diverse array of native asters, mints, legumes, and milkweeds, thereby allowing students to experience nature and learn about native species in parallel with their established curriculum.

If you are interested in helping with this project or other educational opportunities associated with Wesselman Nature Society, please contact Garrett at ggarrett@wesselmannaturesociety.org.

If you are interested in organizing an educational tour for a UE group, please contact Hochwender at ch81@xgcr.net.

Plants donated from the UE native garden will help fulfill the required $500 local in-kind portion of the grant.

Biology Students Receive Awards

Posted: May 6, 2016

The Biology Awards Reception was held recently to honor the outstanding achievements of UE biology students during the 2015-16 academic year.

The James A. Brenneman Student Service Award in Biology was given to Andrew Nunn, and the Patricia L. Akrabawi Teaching Assistant Award in Biology was presented to Taylor Davidson. These awards are named in honor of Jim Brenneman and Pat Akrabawi, respectively, for their long and generous commitment to UE biology students.

The Jerry T. Seng Freshman Biology Award recognizes retired faculty member Jerry Seng for his years of tireless devotion to the success of students, especially freshmen. The recipient of the most outstanding freshman award was Kelly Nixon.

Elizabeth Daugherty received the David and Jennifer Pollock Sophomore Biology Award, named in honor of David and Jennifer Pollock, ’78 for their generous support and contributions to the biology department.

Kate Slater received the P. “Louie” Winternheimer Junior Biology Award, named in memory of Louie Winternheimer for his 39 years of distinguished teaching and service at UE.

The outstanding senior award is named in honor of UE benefactors Dr. and Mrs. Robertson. The Charles and Patricia Robertson Senior Biology Award was presented to Alexandra Arguello.

Biology Professors to Teach for Indiana Master Naturalists Program

Posted: January 13, 2015

Dale Edwards and Cris Hochwender, biology department faculty members, will be teaching courses for the Indiana Master Naturalist program. Their topics will include the ecological framework for the program, tree identification training, and the negative impacts of human activity on natural resources.

The Indiana Master Naturalist program brings together natural resource specialists with adult learners to foster an understanding of Indiana's plants, waters, soils and wildlife and to promote volunteer service in local communities. People with a passion for the natural world can take this opportunity to build their knowledge and skills. For more information contact Gena Garrett at
ggarrett@wesselmannaturesociety.org.

Gifts from Vectren and Alcoa for UE Greenhouse

Posted: September 3, 2014

The Office of Development is pleased to announce that the Alcoa Foundation and the Vectren Foundation will be providing funding to support the current greenhouse project. Vectren has committed to $50,000 while Alcoa has agreed to $40,000.
 

This is very exciting news in that these two gifts complete fundraising for the project with a total of $701,000 being raised from alumni, friends, and now local corporate foundations. The lead gift for the project was provided by Sharon and Burkley McCarthy. Sharon and Burke were inducted as honorary members of the UE Alumni Association in 2004. Sharon serves as a member of the UE Board of Trustees.

Biology Professor Publishes Article

Posted: September 2, 2014

Professor of Biology Dale Edwards, Brian Ernsting, and two biology research students, Taylor Timbrook and Margaret Frerichs, published an article "Preliminary evidence of cryptic species among host-associated populations of Unionicola hoesei (Acari: Unionicolidae)" in the International Journal of Acarology. The results of this study are part of a much larger research program characterizing cryptic biodiversity among unionicolid mussel-mites.

UE Graduate Scott Fites Publishes in the Journal "Nature"

Posted: August 14, 2014

University of Evansville biology alumnus Scott Fites coauthored a research article titled “Amphibians acquire resistance to live and dead fungus overcoming fungal immunosuppression” in a recent issue of the journal Nature. The research was featured on the cover of the journal.

In the article, Scott and his colleagues present experiments demonstrating that several species of frogs can overcome a fugal pathogen – one that has been implicated in the declines of many amphibian species worldwide – after repeated exposure and can even be immunized against it using dead pathogen.

Scott, who received his degree from UE in 2009, is currently a post-doctoral fellow at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

UE Professors Awarded Grant for Science, Math Scholarships

Posted: September 23, 2013

University of Evansville faculty members Joyce Stamm, associate professor of biology, and Adam Salminen, associate professor of mathematics, have secured a five-year, $610,600 grant through the National Science Foundation’s S-STEM (Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program to assist students in science and mathematics. The grant is one of about 90 awarded from the 436 proposals submitted to the S-STEM program, and is the largest faculty grant in school history.

The award provides funds for financial, academic, and professional support for students majoring in the sciences and mathematics. The majority of the grant, around $528,000, will fund the new UE Science and Math Scholarship (SAMS), which will provide four-year scholarships to approximately 34 academically talented students with financial need who are majoring in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, environmental science, mathematics, or physics.

The grant also provides funds for new support services for science and mathematics majors at UE. These services include an introductory summer course for incoming students, a semester-long course on study skills and time management, monthly career colloquiums, and a science and math-themed living-learning community in a campus residence hall. These activities will be available to all math and science students at UE and will continue after the grant ends in 2018.

“This grant not only represents an incredible opportunity to transform the lives of future students at the University of Evansville, but the National Science Foundation’s decision to fund the proposal also demonstrates the University’s outstanding track record of preparing students to succeed in math and science careers and graduate programs,” said John Mosbo, UE senior vice president for academic affairs. “At UE, students receive a personalized education that equips them to make an impact on the national shortfall of qualified STEM professionals. Dr. Salminen and Dr. Stamm’s successful grant application affirms that commitment to teaching.”

“Thanks to this grant, we’ll be able to help an even greater number of high-achieving students pursue an education at the University of Evansville,” said Salminen. “We expect that the SAMS scholarship will increase enrollment of students majoring in math and the sciences.”

“The new student success initiatives will also help ease students’ transitions from high school to college, and from college to graduate school or the workforce,” Stamm added. “We believe this level of personal support will increase retention of students in math and science majors, and ultimately increase the number of qualified professionals in the STEM workforce.”

SAMS scholarships will be available starting with UE’s entering freshman class of 2014. For selection criteria and application details, interested students may visit the program website.

UE Professors Awarded Grant for Science, Math Scholarships

UE's Dale Edwards Publishes New Book

Posted: August 15, 2013

Dale Edwards, professor and chair of the Department of Biology at the University of Evansville, has published a new book, Mites of Freshwater Mollusks. Edwards co-authored the book with his colleague Malcolm Vidrine, a retired professor of biology at Louisiana State University-Eunice.

“Often the least among us most inform us, and these mites are living proof,” said Edwards. “These mites and their host mussels serve as an excellent example of the roles that little-known organisms play in the health and survival of natural areas. They also serve as indicator organisms that can be used to analyze the impact of various kinds of environmental changes.”

The book provides a summary of worldwide research on the mites parasitizing freshwater mollusks and integrates new data regarding the evolutionary relationships among these mites. The mollusks, mainly freshwater mussels, are also major topics of the book: These mussels are considered the most threatened freshwater organisms in the world, with many species either federally protected or extinct.

The book provides numerous ideas for future research for students and scientists, and it focuses on the theme of conserving, protecting, and preserving watersheds, which provide numerous services both for wildlife and for humans, including drinking water.

Mites of Freshwater Mollusks is available at Amazon.com.

Biology students sweep conference awards!

Posted: March 25, 2013

Congratulations to our Biology majors that  swept the first place awards in both the oral presentation and poster presentation sections at MESCON - the undergraduate Math, Science and Engineering Conference 2013.  Ashley Rich earned first place in the oral presentation category. Coauthors Taylor Schoenheit and Taylor Timbrook tied for first with Emmy Ogawa in the Biology poster category.  Great job all!

Biology Seniors Score in 99th percentile:

Posted: November 26, 2012

Once again the seniors in Biology tested in the highest category on the nationally administered Major Field Test in Biology. The test assesses mastery of concepts, principles and knowledge of graduating Biology students from approximately 400 institutions nationwide. It is important to note that our students receive no coaching or exam preparation materials prior to the exam, so it is to their credit that they perform at such a high level. Congratulations seniors!

Bio major research abstract chosen as official template

Posted: November 5, 2012

Senior biology/pre-med and psychology student, Shemikah A. Colleton's abstract tilted "Development and optimization of quantitative image analysis for hepatocyte BrdU labeling indices using NIS-Elements software" has been chosen by the Society of Toxicological Pathologists as the official template for all abstract submissions for the 2013 annual convention in Portland, Oregon. Congratulations Shemikah!

Aces Baseball Player Discovers New Species

Posted: October 19, 2012

Junior Biology major and Aces Pitcher James Kohler's discovery of a new species of bacteria was featured on Inside Aces Athletics.  To see more of how he integrates athletics and academics click on the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUt2s2wIRW0