Biology Year in Review (2023-2024) (2024)

Awards

• Dr. Ben Bahr won the James F. Hubbard Award, adding to his long list of accolades and achievements.
• Dr. Crystal Walline won an Outstanding Teaching Award.
• Dr. Amber Rock won two competitive awards and received a service award:
  • Undergraduate Research and Creativity Mentoring Award
  • Diane O. Jones Excellence in Service-Learning Award
  • Five Years of Service Award
• Dr. Bob Poage received a 20 Years of Service Award.
• Dr. Maria Pereira received a 25 Years of Service Award.
• COMPASS Scholar Hunter Ivey won the Biology Faculty Award, which recognizes an outstanding undergraduate student in his/her junior year.
• Dr. Amber Rock and her student officers inducted ~ 20 students in Psi Lambda chapter of the national honor society Beta Beta Beta during a banquet ceremony in April.
• The Agriculture Club won 2nd Place for its float in the Homecoming Parade. Kudos go to the club for launching its third annual mum sale and for holding a spring plant sale!

Grants and Publications

• Drs. Rita Hagevik and Kaitlin Campbellare co/PIs on aUSDA-NIFA grant Smart Foodscapes with Utah State University.
• Dr. Rita Hagevik is partnered on a Burroughs-Wellcome Fund SSEP grant called Geo and Environmental Health Career Connections with UNC-Chapel Hill.
• Dr. Rita Hagevik published the STEM4EC Blog called "Kids in the Garden: Caring for the Environment and Making Healthy Food Choices," UNC-Chapel Hill.
• Dr. Rita Hagevik published three fact sheets for teachers and parents on Creating Sustainable School and Home Gardens through Utah State University Extension.
• Dr. John O'Dellhelped secure a need-based grant for a student.
• Dr. John Roewas awarded a grant from the Justin Congdon and Nancy Dickson Research Fund at the Chelonian Research Foundation.
• Dr. John Roe co-authored a paper with Biology alumnus Kristopher Wild in the peer-reviewed Journal of Experimental Biology. The paper is entitled, “Metabolic consequences of sex-reversal in two lizard species: a test of the like genotype and like phenotype hypotheses." Dr. Roe has published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers, including ~ a dozen papers co-authored with his undergraduate researchers.
• Dr. Bryan Sales was awarded a $3500 ERPI Grant to increase awareness of agriculture programs and supporting sciences (e.g., biology, environmental, and ecology courses) currently offered in the UNCP Biology and Environmental Science majors by way of engagement with Future Farmers of America Members of North Carolina.
• Dr. Bryan Sales was awarded a $4000 UNCP College of Arts and Sciences Grant for the installation of a long-term blueberry study at the Agriculture Center for Research, Education, and Sustainability (ACRES). Located on Deep Branch Road in Pembroke, ACRES officially opened during spring 2024.
• Dr. Silvia Smith was awarded an Office of Sponsored Research and Programs (OSRP) Summer Research Grant for a third year in a row.
• Dr. Velinda Woriax (Biology Chair) was awarded a $35,000 US Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant to support four students during their eight-week long, summer research internships.
• Dr. Velinda Woriax was awarded a travel grant to participate in a diversity and inclusion conference,the2024 ADVANCE Equity in STEM Community Convening, which is slated for June 2-5, 2024, in Baltimore, Maryland.
• The RISE Program is coming back to UNCP but under the name U-RISE. In April, the University received notice from theNational Institute of General Medical Sciences of a five-year award at $250K per year to support undergraduate research training.Dr. Courtney Alexander (Biology) led the development of the grant proposal, along with Drs. Rachel Smith (Chemistry & Physics) and Bob Poage (Biology).The grant’s external evaluator is Dr. Abby Nance (Psychology).

What is U-RISE?

“The UNCP U-RISE program aims to prepare undergraduate students underrepresented in the sciences for admission into biomedical PhD degree programs. Through mentored research experiences, career exploration, and guidance from faculty research mentors, program staff and peer mentors, trainees will gain the skills and experience needed to complete graduate degrees in STEM fields. This program will prepare a diverse cohort of biology, chemistry, and physics majors with the skills to successfully complete their PhD degrees and successfully transition to careers in the biomedical research workforce.” (excerpt is from the U-RISE proposal)

The first group of U-RISE Fellows was appointed in May. Some will be doing research this summer at UNCP. Others accepted summer research internships at universities and scientific groups across the country.

Talks and Interviews

• Dr. Courtney Alexanderwas featured in theWeill Cornell Graduate School alumni magazine.
• Dr. Kaitlin Campbell gave a talk, “Honeybees as mascots for pollinator conservation,” for the Hoke County Beekeepers Association. The meeting was held in March in Raeford, NC.
• Dr. Kaitlin Campbell was featured in two videos focused on STEM careers for the Smart Foodscape Series – "Meet an Entomologist: K-8" and "Meet an Entomologist: 9-12" (for use by educators internationally).
• Dr. Tonya Elk was an invited speaker for Women’s Empowerment Summit (on the UNCP campus) and for NC State University.
• Dr. Rita Hagevik was an invited speaker at three Universities in Turkey where she presented garden-based learning and climate change research.
• Dr. Rita Hagevik is a keynote speaker at the6thSriwijaya University Learning and Education International Conference (SULE-IC) in Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia.
• Dr. Rita Hagevik created six workshops for theNational Science Teaching Association (NSTA) conferences in Denver, Colorado.
• Dr. Bryan Salesand Provost Diane Prusank addressed agricultural opportunities available at UNCP during the North Carolina FFA Association'sSpring In-Service Event, which was held in the HUB in Pembroke.
• Dr. Maria Santistebangave a presentation, “Implementation of Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience Combining Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry to Clone, Express, Purify and Assay Parasitoid Wasp Venom Glycolytic Enzymes,” for the the Annual Meeting of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Discover BMB, in San Antonio, TX, Mar 23 - 26,2024. Along with CRISPR colleagues, she co-authored a conference poster, “The CRISPR in the Classroom Network: A support system for instructors to bring gene editing technology to the undergraduate classroom”, and she co-authored two student presentations: “Parasitoid Wasp Venom Pyruvate Kinase: Expression, Purification, and Kinetic Characterization” and Expression, Purification, and Enzymology of GAPDH from the venom of the Parasitoid Wasp Ganaspis hookeri.”
• Drs. Silvia Smithand Crystal Walline’spedagogical model for Anatomy/Physiology was featured in the conference Brain Trust and was reviewed in anarticleby ADInstruments.

Community Service and Service Learning

• Dr. KaitlinCampbell and her 22 Environmental Science (ENV 1100) students developed and implemented an interactive booth event in April, focused on conservation and biodiversity for 4thand 5thgraders (97 students) at Deep Branch Elementary School in Maxton, NC.
• Dr. Lisa Kelly’s Conservation Biology (BIO 4320) class, in partnership with the Lumbee Tribe, conducted biodiversity (iNaturalist) surveys of the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center, from which permanent biodiversity posters were produced and donated to the tribe. The class joined The Nature Conservancy in the Calloway Forest Preserve to collect wiregrass seed for habitat restoration in the cultural center. This was the fifth year in which the class has partnered with the Lumbee Tribe in service-learning activities.
• Dr. Nicolas Negrin Pereira partnered with local ranchers in Biltmore Estate Fall Field Day and in research studies on bull fertility. He co-organized with NC State University a bull management field day with an attendance of around 15 farmers at the Willoughby farm in Fairmont,Robeson County, with a presentation and later a hands-on chute side workshop. He gave a shout-out to the “awesome” help from two of his research students -- Maricela Andrade and Marijo Wilkes.
• Dr. Amber Rock’s Freshwater Ecosystems and Pollution Ecology classes were active in service-learning this year, partnering with Winyah Rivers Alliance to better understand water pollution and water quality in the Lumber River. Students collected water quality data, completed trash pickup events, and conducted literature research on PFAS pollution in the United States. Both classes gave presentations to Winyah Rivers Alliance employees, who will use the information gathered to advance their mission of creating fishable, swimmable, and drinkable rivers. Three students also conducted independent research projects in conjunction with Winyah Rivers Alliance: Jacob Locklear Stewart, Deandre Butler, and Luca (“Lillian”) Matthews.
• Twenty-one UNCP students volunteered for theNC Academy of Science booth for Astronomy Days in the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh (February 3-4th). A big shout-out goes to these undergraduates (many of whom areCOMPASS Scholars) for engaging the public in fun science:Koki Asada, AJ Abudaya, Lacy Bracken, Wilson Hawes, Julia Autry, Kimberly Fernandez, Aaron Hartman, Shannon Lowry, Noemi Yisra’EL, Demitrius Willig, Grant Gabzdyl, Tyler Locklear, Sophia Hammett, Hannah Leviner, Tiffani Roberts, Kyra Locklear, Alexis Strickland, Thalia Crespo, Sierra Wright, Kacia Grant, and Melissa Depew.
• COMPASS Scholars judged the Region 4 Science Fair and worked with K-5th grade students at the STEAM Festival organized by the UNCP School of Education.

Undergraduate Conference Presentations

• Nearly 30 Biology students presented research posters during the2023 RISE End-of-Summer Research Symposium on August 25, 2023. Biology alumna Carlisha Hall was the keynote speaker.
• TheUNCP COMPASS Program took more than a dozen students to two state conferences – theState of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS) and the annual meeting of the North Carolina Academy of Science (NCAS). COMPASS students Thalia Crespo, Lillian Matthews, and Ava Cox presented research posters during SNCURCS, which was held November 11th on the campuses of Wingate University and South Piedmont Community College. Other UNCP Biology students who presented posters at SNCURCS were: Vanessa Hughes, Bailey Hrobak, Shannon Lowry, and Paisley Locklear. COMPASS students Hunter Ivey, Kyra Locklear, Lillian Matthews, and Alexis Strickland presented posters during the NCAS conference, which was held on the campus of Winston-Salem University on April 5-6, 2024.
• Hunter Ivey, Erika Rivera, and Sierra Wright presented research posters at a national conference, the2023 Entomological Society of America, which was held November 5-8th, in National Harbor, Maryland. Travel was supported byStudent Travel Funds from the PURC program.
• Brooke Blackmon, Shannon Lowry, Erika Rivera, and Sierra Wright presented research posters at a regional conference, theAssociation of Southeastern Biologists, which was held March 20-23 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. All students were awardedStudent Travel Funds from the PURC program.
• COMPASS students Kyra Locklear and Alexis Strickland presented research posters at the inauguralnational S-STEM conference on September 14-16.
• More than40 Biology students (including many COMPASS students) presented posters during the18thAnnual PURC Symposium on April 10th.
• Paisley Locklear, who is a STEM Fellow with the North CarolinaLouis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (NCLSAMP), presented a research poster at theAmerican Indian Science and Engineering Society meeting in Spokane, Washington, which was held October 19-21, 2023.
• NCLSAMP STEM Fellow Jacob Locklear Stewartpresented a poster during theEmerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in STEM in Washington, DC, March 14-16, 2024. Jacob was awarded an ERN full travel award.
• Thanks to a generous scholarship from retired Biology professor Dr. Debby Hanmer, Dr. Bryan Sales and his four students (Tyler Locklear, Eric Smith, Mellissa Depew, and Emily Spicer) attended theSustainable Agriculture Conference in Durham last November.
• Dr. Maria Santisteban and colleagues from the Carolina Regional Node of the Genomics Education Partnership (GEP) organized a student-centered symposium in collaboration with the Clemson University Center for Human Genetics. The April 13th symposium drew 70 people and included poster and oral student presentations and two panels geared toward students -- one on Careers in Genomics (integrated by experts in the field) and a second one integrated for students in various stages in their career and focused on their trajectories. Keynote speaker Dr. Robert R. H. Anholt (Provost’s Distinguished Professor of Genetics and Biochemistry at Clemson University Center for Human Genetics) talked about “Drosophila models for substance use disorders." UNCP Biology students Koki Asada, Thalia Crespo, and Tiffani Roberts, who had worked on independent research with Dr. Santisteban last year, presented their work, and student Sierrah Robinsonattended the symposium. Drs. Maria Pereira and Santisteban presented poster and oral presentations for their research students Connor Chessick and Kayla Kaye, respectively, who were unable to attend the symposium.

Faculty/Staff Undergraduate Research Mentors

Kinsley Adams and Drs. Courtney Alexander, Timothy Anderson, Ben Bahr, Kaitlin Campbell, Sean Hitchman, Lisa Kelly, Nicolas Negrin Pereira, John O'Dell, Maria Pereira, Amber Rock, John Roe, Bryan Sales, Maria Santisteban, Marilu Santos, Silvia Smith, and Katherine Thorington.

Ben Bahr’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Lab

• NCBiotech Intern Reece Hicks (Chemistry) won two scholarships:
  2023-2024 Dr. Timothy Ritter and Marie Amero Endowed Research Scholarship
  2023-2024 NASA/NC Space Grant MSI STEM Bridge Scholarship
• NCBiotech Intern MyKayla Greene (Chemistry/Molecular Biotechnology) won two scholarships:
  2024-25 Dr. Timothy Ritter and Marie Amero Endowed Research Scholarship
  2024-2025 NASA/NC Space Grant Scholarship
• Austin Ackerley (Biology) is a Lumbee Regional Development Associate summer intern in the Bahr Lab.
• Zachary Powell (Biology) received funding from the UNCP Enrollment, Retention & Persistence Innovation Grant.

COMPASS Scholarship Program

Spring site visits:

• COMPASS Scholars visited North Carolina State University’s Biotechnology program where they learned about plants and looked at stations with tissue culture, mammalian cell culture, worms, and bacteria. They heard about cool sequencing projects -- all graduate student driven -- and received a tour of facilities. They were given wonderful T-shirts designed by post-docs in the program, and they received advice about graduate school matters from a panel of graduate students.
• The scholars visited the NC Museum of Natural Science in Raleigh where they toured the research lab: Genomics & Microbiology, Evolutionary Biology, Behavior, Paleo, Biodiversity,Geology, and their favorite exhibit -- the Mammal Collections in the dungeonsJ.
• The scholars liked their visit to the NC Museum of Natural Science so much that they also visited the museum’s Whiteville branch!

Spring retreat:

• The COMPASS2 community grew even stronger and had a lot of fun during its annual Spring retreat. While spending a weekend on the Outer Banks, they learned about coastal topics and issues of concern for coastal communities from experts at the Coastal Studies Institute on East Carolina University’s Outer Banks Campus. Plus, they had a super-interesting boat program with the institute. They also visited the Wright Brothers National Memorial, hiked the huge dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, and had a hand at fishing with a Fishing 101 program at Jennette’s Pier.

Graduations:

• COMPASS graduated its “beloved” Cohort I this Spring: Thalia Crespo, Dean Foggan, Kyra Locklear, TiffaniRoberts, Alexis Strickland, and Sierra Wright,and non-cohort students Grant Gabzdyland Kacia Grant. Ariana Locklearand Kathryn Davis graduated during winter commencement. COMPASS Director Dr. Marisol Santisteban wrote, “Although we are sad they left, we are also excited for their new adventures.”

Students Admitted to Graduate and Professional Schools

• Ellissa DeFeyter has been accepted into the MS in Biology program at East Carolina University. She will be studying marine ecology with Dr. Rebecca Asch.
• COMPASS Scholar Grant Gabzdyl has been accepted into thePhD program in Microbiology/Immunology atSUNY Upstate New York Medical University.
• Alexis Little has been accepted for fall enrollment in Methodist University'sPhysician Assistant Program.
• Kyra Locklear, who is both a COMPASS Scholar and a Scholar in theUNC System Veterinary Education Access Scholars (UNC-SVEA) Program has been accepted into veterinary program atNC State University College of Veterinary Medicine, which starts in early August.
• COMPASS Scholar Sean Musselwhitehas been accepted into theUNC Chapel Hill for Eshelman School of Pharmacy. He will start in 2025. He will get to know his pharmacy school peers during an overnight program in June.
• COMPASS Scholar Tiffani Robertswill be a part of theUniversity of Iowa's iDREAM Program. This is a two-year post-bac program in neuroscience, after which Tiffani plans to apply for a Ph.D. program.
• COMPASS Scholar Alexis Stricklandhas been accepted into theMedServe fellowship, which is for newly graduated college students who have completed the pre-medical curriculum requirement for medical school but are taking time off to gain clinical and community service experience before applying to medical school. Alexis was accepted into three different clinics and has chosen to work as a medical assistant at the Hampstead Family Medicine clinic near Wilmington. She will start after the July 4th holiday, but before that, she will attend a skills summit at UNC-Chapel Hill for two weeks. Alexis intends to apply to medical school after the completion of the program.
• Biology alumnusBrandon Wood-Potter has been accepted into Campbell University’sSchool of Osteopathic Medicine.
• COMPASS Scholar Sierra Wright has been accepted intoMiami University of Oxford’s (Ohio) project Dragonfly master’s program. She has chosen theGlobal field Program option where she will be traveling to different countries to work in conservation. She has already started on her first class assignments and will be heading to Belize in early June.

Student Summer Internships and Jobs

• Four NativeAmerican students were awarded LSAMP grants to complete summer internships with the USDA:Marijo Wilkes (Athens, GA), Tonyetta Perry (New Orleans, LA), Caitlin Smith (Florence, SC), and Jacob Locklear Stewart(Charleston, SC).
• Brooke Blackmonhas been accepted for a summer internship through the State Employees Credit Union Public Fellows Internship program.
• COMPASS Scholar Thalia Crespo has interviewed for jobs in the Raleigh area, and she has a job shadowing at NC State University’s veterinary hospital.
• COMPASS Scholar Dean Foggan will be working as an Emergency Medical Technician(EMT) this summer.
• COMPASS Scholar Gretchen Gillenwater is currently doing anREU with the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma. Gretchen is really excited to be in that area and study tornados; she has already seen one!!!
• Holly Hansen has been accepted into UNCP Health Careers Access Program'sClinical Health Summer Program. She hopes to be placed in a local dentist's office.
• Aaron Hartman will be doing invasive ant research with Drs. Kaitlin Campbell and Lisa Kelly.
• COMPASS Scholar Anyla Hunt has been accepted into UNCP Health Careers Access Program'sClinical Health Summer Program. She will be working in thePembroke Family Practice Center.
• Matthew Ketner will be continuing his box turtle research with Dr. John Roe.
• COMPASS Scholar Tiana Lowry has been accepted into UNCP Health Careers Access Program'sClinical Health Summer Program. She will be working in a local veterinary clinic.
• COMPASS Scholar Rosa Parker has been accepted into UNCP Health Careers Access Program'sClinical Health Summer Program. She has been placed with the Lumberton Children's Clinic.
• COMPASS Scholar Noemi Yisra'ELinterviewed for an environmental technician internship and hopes to get the job for this summer.
• To learn more about student summer internships, see the blurb above about the U-RISE Program (under Grants and Publications).

Changes in Faculty/Staff

• Dr. Mary Ash retired after 16 years as the Coordinator of Undergraduate Science Education. Best wishes in your retirement, Mary. You will be missed!
• Byron Huntjoined the Biology Department as Agriculture (Farm) Technician on November 13, 2023.
• Dr. Jeffrey Beasley joined the Biology Department in November 2023 as the Marion F. Bass Distinguished Professor (Agricultural Science).