LSU Department of Biological Sciences

with stopped by Professor Roger Laine’s lab to talk about his exciting and promising research. He’s working on a cancer treatment using the same bacteria that cause strep throat and other infections. Dr. Laine was featured on the news last night. Check out the full story here: https://www.brproud.com/features/medical-moment/lsu-professor-researching-new-cancer-treatment-treating-tumors-with-strep-throat-bacteria/

Laser Tag Showdown Recap! 🏃‍♂️💥

Our team took on Surge Entertainment for an epic laser tag battle last Friday! From left to right, we've got Rashmi Pathak, our sharp-shooting champ Avinash Kumar (congrats on the win!), Johnna Roose and her son, Kirschlan Blanchard, Chimene Williams, and Elizabeth Hlucky.

It was time well spent strategizing, dodging lasers, and building stronger connections. The perfect mix of fun and teamwork!

Ready to dive into the world of cell biology this fall?

Join us for an exciting course that translates molecular reactions in the cell into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and analyzes them numerically!

By the end of the course, students will be able to predict the dynamic changes of cellular responses to different environments.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to understand cell biology as a system. 🔬

Enroll now or reach out to the instructor at [email protected] for more information.

🌿🧬 Last Two Weeks Recap with the
New LAGNiAppE Cohort! ⭐🌿🧬

They have had a great start, immersing themselves in a variety of activities, including:

A fascinating visit to the Herbarium, where they explored the extensive collection.

An enlightening tour of the High-Performance Computing facilities, learning how tech is driving scientific research.

An informative tour at the Shared Instrument
Facilities, getting close to the state-of-the-art research tools.

Engaging workshops on topics ranging from
research techniques to professional development and DEl initiatives.

We are so excited to see what this talented group will achieve!

📚 You have been told that college classes move fast and that college exams are difficult.
📖 BIOS is a bootcamp designed to give you the college experience without affecting your grades.
⏰ It’s like a practice run and it works!
🤝 You will also learn better time management and study skills, and you will meet other highly motivated students.

🎉 BIOS students have higher grades in Introductory Biology, higher GPAs, and are more likely to graduate in four years.

Follow this link to register: https://bit.ly/3WlBuNd

Please visit our website or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

Assistant Professor Nicholas Mason and his team discovered that North America's two Redpoll species are actually one. Their decade-long research, published in 2021, will soon transform bird classification.
📷 dfaulder, Wikipedia Commons
🔗https://www.lsu.edu/science/biosci/news/2024/redpollrevelation.php

Exciting Research Alert!📢
Dr. Chen Chen has found a potential treatment for malignant cancers by fusing two proteins, one that slips past the tumor’s defenses carrying a second protein to kill the tumor. Learn more 👇

🌟 Boost your success with BIOS! 🌟

BIOS is proven to enhance student success, offering the tools and resources you need. Don't miss out and register by Friday, July 19!

🔗https://bit.ly/3WlBuNd

Brumfield Lab Ph.D. student Diego Cueva’s summer is full of adventures! Check it out in this Summer Series!

Geaux Spenser!👏


Our Ph.D. student Spenser Babb Biernacki (Esselstyn Lab) recently won the John Taylor Graduate Student Research Prize for Best Oral Presentation at the annual meeting of the Mycological Society of America. Geaux Spenser! Congratulations!

This morning Instructor Kim Harper visited Gateway Preschool and Technology Center to share some exciting water experiments with 250 young scientists! 🌊🧪

The kids were amazed by the “walking water” experiment, where colored water magically moved from one cup to another. They also learned about the power of soap by seeing how it affects water with pepper, helping them understand germs and how to prevent their spread. 🧼✨

Graduate Student Jada Daniels finished a two-week NSF-funded EMERGE program at the University of New Hampshire!

She focused on integrating research and training across 15 scientific disciplines to study ecosystem-climate feedback in Stordalen Mire, Sweden. 🌍🔬

Daniels is investigating microbial communities and their role in carbon emissions using a ‘genes-to-ecosystems-to-genes’ (G2E2G) approach. 🧬🌿

Important move-in information to note for incoming students 👇

Hey Tiger! Choose your move-in arrival appointment (arrival date and time) in the housing portal July 1-12, 2024, based on the schedule listed at lsu.edu/movein. Once you gain access at your building's time, you will continue to have access through July 12, 2024, to reschedule your appointment and edit your bed loft preference (if applicable to your building).

Incoming first-year students move in August 16-18, 2024. The experience is the same on all three days; however, selecting an early arrival appointment on Friday, August 16, 2024, will add a $200 early arrival charge to your student fee bill.

You are only selecting your arrival time. If you and your roommate want to move in simultaneously, you should both schedule the same arrival appointment date and time.

Arrival Appointments
👉Friday, August 16, arrival times are 2, 3:30, 5, and 6:30 p.m.
👉 Saturday, August 17, arrival times are 8, 9:30, 11 a.m. and 12:30, 2, 3:30, 5, and
6:30 p.m.
👉 Sunday, August 18, arrival times are 8, 9:30, 11 a.m. and 12:30, 2, 3:30, and 5 p.m.

Bed Lofting
👉 Rooms with loftable-style beds can request a high loft or low loft position during appointment scheduling. Not choosing a loft option keeps the bed at its default mid-height position.
👉 A limited number of bed rails are available. Request one at your community’s service desk after moving in.

As always, view the latest information about Move-in Day at lsu.edu/movein or ask us a question at [email protected].

Sara Armstrong, a talented graduate student working under Maheshi Dassanayake, PhD, attended the Astrobiology Science Conference in Providence, Rhode Island in May. 🚀🌌

At the conference, Sara delivered an impressive short talk on how to grow plants on Mars accompanied by an engaging electronic poster. 🌟👏

📢 The LSU Department of Biological Sciences proudly announces the appointment of Patrick DiMario, PhD, as the new Interim Chair, effective July 1. 🎉

🧬 DiMario brings 34 years of dedicated service to the department and will remain committed to his research while assuming his new duties.

🤝 He has been collaborating closely with former Department Chair, Evanna Gleason, PhD, to gain insights and prepare for his new role.

“I am amazed at the size and breadth of this department,” said DiMario. “It is incredibly big, so having knowledge of all aspects is critical. I think the chair is a full-time job, and I think I can handle it for a year.”

🔗 https://www.lsu.edu/science/biosci/news/2024/patrick_dimario_named_interim_chair.php

Today is Dr. Evanna Gleason’s last day as our Department Chair. After five incredible years of leadership, she will be dedicating her time to research and teaching.

She has been an invaluable part of our team, making significant contributions to our mission and leaving a lasting impact on countless students. Her mentorship has inspired many to pursue careers in biological sciences.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Gleason for her hard work, dedication, and positive influence. She will continue to be a vital part of our department, now focusing on research and teaching.

Thank you, Dr. Gleason! 🌟👏

📚 BIOS is a four-day boot camp designed to prepare incoming LSU freshmen for the College of Science. Since 2005, BIOS alumni have achieved higher GPAs, better retention rates, and higher four-year graduation rates.

👩‍🏫 Participants meet faculty, attend real lectures, take mock exams, learn study strategies, and create a graduation plan.

🗓️ Interested students should choose BIOS as their “Choose Your Adventure” (CYA) event during Welcome Week (Aug 22-25). Pre-registration opens July 1 and closes July 19. The fee is $275, covering e-texts for BIOL 1201 and 1202. Financial aid is available.

🚨 Note: BIOS conflicts with other CYA events like Greek Rush.

🔗 More details: https://www.lsu.edu/science/bios/index.php

This week, our team leader Stephania Cormier was an invited plenary speaker on environment and health at the 9th Biennial National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence in Washington, DC. She talked about unmasking the link between air pollution and respiratory viruses.

LSU College of Science Pennington Biomedical Research Center National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Geaux Muneera!👏

🗓️ Pre-registration for BIOS will begin the first week of July and will close July 19.
💻 For more information about BIOS, please visit our website 👉 https://www.lsu.edu/science/bios

If you’ve ever been in LSU’s Life Sciences Building or Annex, you’ve likely met Trisha Ball, known as the glue that holds everything together. Recently honored with the LSU Staff Stripes Award by LSU Staff Senate, Trisha has shown exceptional leadership and dedication as the Building Manager for Biological Sciences for more than five years. She’s navigated challenges from electrical outages to wildlife encounters. Geaux Trisha!👏
🔗 https://www.lsu.edu/science/biosci/news/2024/trishaballwinsaward.php

🌟 Abdul Ada, a dedicated PhD student, is heading back to his roots in Mozambique next spring. ✈️

He'll lead a transformative workshop educating local teens about climate change impacts on marine life and inspiring them to pursue their dreams. Growing up in a community reliant on fishing and tourism, his journey will come full circle as he fosters youth leadership and sustainable development.

"If you would have told me 15 years ago that I was going to be in the U.S., I would have told you that you are crazy," said Ada. "I believe we can make a small effort to help people with dreams realize that their dreams can grow and we can help be a bridge for their future."

Ada is also a dedicated member of the Hellberg Lab.

Check out his full story 👇
https://www.lsu.edu/science/biosci/news/2024/bringingknowledgehome.php

Did you catch Professor Roger Laine on WAFB Channel 9 last night?

Reporter Elizabeth Bourgeois and Photojournalist Robert Hollins visited his lab to discuss his groundbreaking research on developing a cancer treatment using bacteria that cause strep throat and other infections. 🎥

Watch the full story here 👇
https://www.wafb.com/video/2024/06/12/lsu-professor-uses-strep-throat-treat-cancer/

Geaux Elaine!!

Elaine representing LSU at the inaugural Science for Development Institute in DC! LSU Department of Biological Sciences LSU College of Science LSU Biograds

🌍✨ LSU is proud to host researchers from around the globe!

Associate Professor Morgan Kelly is co-supervising Ambre Placide from Innsbruck University, Austria. 🦠🔬 Ambre, with degrees in Population Biology & Ecosystems and Hydrosystems & Watershed, shares Dr. Kelly's passion for studying copepods. For the past year, she’s been virtually joining lab meetings via Zoom.

Discover more about her journey here: https://www.lsu.edu/science/biosci/news/2024/kellylabstudentspotlight.php