Montana Tech Biological Sciences Department

Biology major Elise Kzaley learns to perform blood smears in the field for analyzing deer mice immune responses.

Congratulations to our fabulous seniors who presented their senior thesis projects this afternoon. Well done! Proud of you all.

As part of the Restoration II final exam, students from Biology, Geology, Mining Engineering, and Environmental Engineering are working to restore an impacted slope near Montana Tech. The area has been extensively impacted by invasive plants, erosion, mining, and recreational use. Changes to the slope's morphology make it hard for natural flora and fauna to establish. Using the power of topography heterogeneity, wattle fences, rough and loose configuration, live stakes, pole drains, biochar, native seed mixes, and coarse woody debris, students have ensured that the area is on a road to recovery. We anticipate that native plants will sprout behind the waddle fences and within the rough and loose configuration as the weather warms. We will continue to monitor the ongoing restoration with the ultimate goal of applying the treatments in impacted areas across Butte.

Update on two of our fabulous graduates from 2020--Tanner Chase and Cameron Myers. Both Tanner and Cameron are involved in the Naval Health Professional Scholarship Program. Tanner is currently finishing up his second year of medical school at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences and will be starting clinical rotations in Spokane this summer. Cameron is graduating from the University of Kentucky's medical school in May and then will be headed to Jacksonville, Florida to start his residency training in family medicine at the Naval hospital.

This weeks Anatomy lab assignment - create a heart A and P related valentine. We have some creative students. 💕

For students in grades 6-12, here is an essay contest with a $500 first prize award. Dr. Hilleman was from Miles City, MT and is credited with the development of more than 40 vaccines! Many of the vaccines provided protection against childhood diseases.

The prompt for the 500-1000-word essay contest:

“Dr. Hilleman made his impact on the world through the development of vaccines. What scientific issue would you take on if given the chance and why?”

2024 Maurice R. Hilleman Essay Contest | Hilleman Film 2024 Maurice R. Hilleman Essay Contest 2024 Writing prompt: Dr. Hilleman made his impact on the world through the development of vaccines. What scientific issue would you take on if given the chance and why? What if your life's work led to saving 8 million lives every year? Virologist Maurice R. Hil...

Congratulations to our December graduates who defended their senior thesis projects this afternoon.

Nice article about one of our impressive alumni Riley Hellinger!

https://mtech.edu/news/2023/10/montana-tech-celebrates-outstanding-orediggers-during-national-transfer-student-week.html?fbclid=IwAR3m_dPW8qg0MlyUPySDblLeK_IFdzjX_IGidSZTJ4s_QrlubypFqtgoj_o_aem_AcYWYTEI6BkoGDvqTI6ESqYfNLHT6I8986wTdKH4Nu__eV1jk_xr3V4gFjtDLNILGeQ&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Montana Tech celebrates outstanding Orediggers during National Transfer Student Week - Montana Tech - Montana's Premier STEM University Montana Tech is home to nationally and regionally ranked programs in engineering, sciences, and health care. The Lance College of Mines & Engineering offers top programs in engineering and other in-demand STEM fields of study.The College of Letters, Sciences & Professional Studies is home to Montana...

Biology major Ian Barville makes a new friend. 🐭

Paddy the Pronghorn wishes you all a happy fall weekend.

https://dayone.mtech.edu/giving-day/78740/department/78741

Montana Tech DayOne 2023 DayOne - Supporting a Tradition of Determined Doers at Montana Technological University

Britnee is a recent MT Tech grad (Biology May 2020 and Biochemistry December 2020) pursuing PhD at UM. Please help by donating or sharing this post. Thank you.

Brittnee and her family need help!!!, organized by Lacey Tarkalson Hi there! Lacey here and it is well known that Brittnee is my best friend. Britt… Lacey Tarkalson needs your support for Brittnee and her family need help!!!

Congratulations to Biology Student Madison Toll on her Champion of Character Award!

Congratulations to Biology alumni Micaul Querciagrossa on her Early Impact Alumni Award from the Montana Tech Foundation.

Congratulations to our seniors who presented their thesis research today! Great job!

Student Spotlight!

Two Montana Tech biology seniors are headed to highly competitive dentistry programs after graduation. They say the one-on-one opportunities offered at Montana Tech helped them stand out in the admissions process.

Madelynn Worley, of Butte, will attend the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. Kaylee Appley, of Shelby, will enroll at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. Both dentistry programs enrolled less than 5% of applicants in the 2022 entering class.

Click the link in our bio to read more➡️

Biology's Pronghorn Patty wishes you a Happy Easter!

Animal Ecology students study bird specimen with Rayelynn Brandl and Dr. Stella Capoccia. Our hands-on labs help students develop top-notch field skills.

Dr. Stella Capoccia’s Animal Ecology Class spent the day at the Wildlife Society Conference, Montana Chapter. The group attended talks on Bats, Bears, Road-side amphibians, and Snapping Turtles, just to name a few. One of the highlights of their day was meeting Dr. Ed. Arnett, CEO of The Wildlife Society’s national organization. Dr. Arnett joined the organization as a student in 1984. He’s worked on wildlife all over the country and now tries to attend a few chapter meetings per year. Dr. Arnett encouraged the students to stay engaged in wildlife issues as they are the future of successful conservation.

The Chemistry and Biology Building is ready for the Holiday Stroll. Come enjoy some Holiday Treats and warm up with a Festive Drink!

Biology Majors Jenna Hodges and Katelyn Warren pranking the A&P lab!

As part of the Montana Tech campus, Biology is participating in Montana Tech's DayOne fundraiser, a two-day virtual event where departments across the university raise money to support their work.

DayOne is happening NOW through Friday, September 9th at 11:59pm. Any donation you make towards Biology or Exercise and Health Sciences will be matched through a generous anonymous donation . Montana Tech is providing additional opportunities for your donation to go further if you are a first-time donor, student, or faculty/staff member. Funds will be used to provide scholarships for students majoring in biology and exercise and health sciences.

To Donate Now
https://dayone.mtech.edu/giving-day/59121/department/59122

THANK YOU for all your efforts,

DayOne 2022 DayOne - Supporting a Tradition of Determined Doers at Montana Technological University

Our own Abby Peltomaa was a guest on the Butte area podcast "Toggle Town" hosted by Butte High Senior, Ryan Tomich.

Watch to find out how Abby's job mixes history and science.

Ep. 0.8: Abby Peltomaa, Data Manager for the Department of Reclamation This is Episode 0.8 with Abby Peltomaa. Abby collects and processes information from Superfund and environmental cleanups around Butte Montana. This includes...