School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah

Demand for biologists (and degrees like bioinformatics, chemistry, etc…) is growing and the University of Utah College of Science is providing students with the hands-on laboratory training, mentorship, and the education needed to fuel the biotech and life science sectors.

Read more about it here: https://www.biology.utah.edu/news/biology-and-innovation-preparing-for-biotech-and-life-science-careers/

University of Utah Alumni U Career Success University of Utah

Please join us for our next guest speaker in our Seminar Series: our very own Jim Heys from The University of Utah.

Dr. Heys will discuss his lab's recent discovery of "time cells," which fire in a regular sequence similar to that of a clock, and their role in helping animals understand the timing and location of their adaptive behaviors.

Read more about his research here: https://www.heyslab.org/

University of Utah College of Science

“Dream big and take the initiative to put yourself out there. If you’re hesitant or afraid of your goals, that’s okay.” —Nathan Patchen, 2024 Goldwater Scholar

When Nathan’s not in the Liu lab, doing cancer research, you’ll find him training for triathlons, or serving with the Utah National Guard 1/145 Field Artillery Unit.

LINK IN BIO: Student Stories…to learn more about Nathan.

ASK NATHAN…
Email Nathan with your questions at [email protected]

University of Utah College of Science University of Utah School of Medicine

Please join us for our next guest speaker in our Seminar Series: Shinichi Aizawa from the University of Hiroshima.
Dr. Aizawa will discuss his research of flagellin subunits and how they polymerize in a helical manner to form a tube of filament, called a super-helix.

Read more about his research here: https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Shin-Ichi-Aizawa-57021002

University of Utah College of Science

Please join us for our next guest speaker in our Seminar Series: Leo Micheal Romero from Tufts University.
Dr. Romero will discuss his laboratory and field data that suggests that the vertebrate stress response can serve as a model for how to integrate information from genotypes to phenotypes to populations.

Read more about his research here: https://as.tufts.edu/biology/romero-lab/romero-lab
University of Utah College of Science Tufts University

Please join us for our next guest speaker in our Seminar Series: our very own James Gagnon from The University of Utah.
Dr. Gagnon's research uses the tools of traditional developmental biology outside of the embryo to study organ maintenance, pathogen defense and ecological pressures.
Read more about his research here: https://www.gagnonlab.org/

University of Utah College of Science

Join us for Kate Lemons' PhD defense: "Maintenance of genomic integrity in the male germline of Drosophila melanogaster" on Wednesday, May 22 at 2:00 PM in ASB 210.

"During my undergrad I enjoyed my biology classes the most and toyed with the idea of pursuing a PhD but didn't have the confidence. I then got a job as a laboratory analyst in the medical device industry. One of the senior scientists at this company allowed me to collaborate on an R&D project. She saw how excited I was and encouraged me to apply to PhD programs. The U Biology community has been such a support which I think is fairly unique as I don't think this kind of support can be found in a lot of other PhD programs."

Kate Lemons was mentored by Professor Kent Golic (biology.utah.edu/faculty/kent-golic)

Kate plans to apply her knowledge and skills to research in industry.

University of Utah College of Science University of Utah Graduate School

Congratulations to the “Wildfire Resilience Collective”, led by 4 biology grad students and an engineering undergrad for winning two major prizes from the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy.

To read the story written by team member, Hannah Meier, PhD Student, School of Biological Sciences click here: https://wilkescenter.utah.edu/spotlight/establishing-a-wildfire-resilience-collective-wilkes-center-hackathon-2024/

Wildfire Resilience Collective
🏆1st: Wilkes Center Climate Hackathon
🏆3rd: Wilkes Center Student Innovation Prize

Thanks to mentorship and funding from the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy, the team will be able to move forward, hopefully establishing the “Wildfire Resistance Collective”.

Team members:
Biology PhD students: Tegan Lengyel (Anderegg lab), Rebecca Senft (Aparecido lab), Hannah Meier (DYCE and Reimer lab), Annie Carlile (Bowling lab), and undergraduate Elizabeth Williams, biomedical engineering

College of Mines and Earth Sciences University of Utah, Biomedical Engineering University of Utah College of Science

Please join us for Kendra Autumn's PhD defense: "Evolutionary genomics of mycoparasitism in the order Hypocreales with a focus on the genus Hypomyces" on May 6th at 2pm in ASB 210.

"I wanted to pursue a PhD in biology because having a deeper understanding of the natural world feels like being endowed with a powerful secret insight that makes everything around me more interesting."

Kendra Autumn was mentored by Associate Professor Bryn Dentinger (Dentingerlab.org).

Kendra will be joining the Science Research Initiative at the U as a postdoctoral fellow.

Kendra Autumn
Natural History Museum of Utah
University of Utah College of Science
University of Utah Graduate School

Please join us in celebrating the class of 2024! Biology major, Eron Powell will be providing this year’s student address: “Be Excellent”

“The university is not interested in supplying a multitude of facts to be forgotten when we enter the workforce... rather the mission... is to welcome new freshmen and shape them into people of excellence who will make exceptional contributions to society.” -Eron Powell

For more information about commencement and for Eron's story click here: https://commencement.utah.edu/

2nd photo: Eron with Director of the School of Biological Sciences, Professor Fred Adler.

Eron Powell
University of Utah College of Science

❤️ Did you know you can take an interactive tour (in person or virtual)of the many beautiful trees in the Utah Arboretum?
Check it out here: https://facilities.utah.edu/tree-tour/

The legacy of botanist Walter Cottam transformed U campus into a living laboratory - @theU How the university became Utah's official arboretum, home to 9,600 trees on its main campus, featuring at least 250 species from around the world.

Please join us for Madison Smith's PhD defense: “Soothing Stress Through Close Contact: How ER-PM Contact Sites Relieve Membrane Tension” on Friday May 3rd at 2pm in ASB 210.

"I chose the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Utah because of the broad spectrum of research that is covered in this department. Although I wasn't sure which niche topic I wanted to pursue before starting graduate school, the department's extensive array of research opportunities reassured me that I would discover a subject I was truly passionate about."

Madison was mentored by Professor Markus Babst (biology.utah.edu/faculty/markus-babst).

University of Utah College of Science
University of Utah Graduate School

Please join us for Katie Piscopo's PhD defense: “The Regulation of Endosome Function during Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress” on Tuesday April 30th at 2pm in ASB 210.

"I really wanted to be close to the mountains, and my PI at the time had just gotten back from giving a talk at the University of Utah, and suggested I apply there as well. So I did, and when I came out here for my interview, I immediately knew this was where I wanted to go."

Katie Piscopo was mentored by Professor Julie Hollien (hollienlab.com).

University of Utah College of Science
University of Utah Grad School

Please join us for our next guest speaker in our Seminar Series: Oscar Vargas from Cal Poly Humboldt.

Dr. Vargas will discuss his research on how biogeography and the comparative phylogenetic method can be employed to test speciation types in biodiverse hotspots, specifically in the American tropics and the California Floristic Province.

Read more about his research here: https://oscarmvargas.com/

University of Utah College of Science Cal Poly Humboldt

Please join us for Federico Collazo Caceres’ Master’s defense: “Factors Influencing Caucasian lynx (Lynx lynx dinniki) Home Range Size in Northeastern Turkiye”

🗓️Monday, April 29
⏰2:00 PM
📍ASB 210

Federico is in the combined BS/MS degree program in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology.

“I always admired the programs and opportunities the University of Utah provided, so when I discovered that the Şekercioğlu lab performed studies on topics that interested me, I decided it was the right place.”

Federico was mentored by Professor Cagan H. Sekercioglu(sekercioglu.biology.utah.edu)

University of Utah College of Science

Meet graduating senior Clara Lindley! She is graduating with an HBS in Biology and plans to work in community health, eventually as a physician.

“I chose to study biology because I am interested in applying what I learn in the classroom to working directly with improving people’s lives.”

Favorite class: Comparative Physiology (BIOL3320) with Dr. Ayako Yamaguchi. “I was fascinated by the different physiological systems that have evolved in different animals and that allow for very specialized functions.”

To read more about Clara read her feature story written by Maisy Webb here: https://www.biology.utah.edu/biology-student-stories/biology-student-stories-clara-lindley/

University of Utah College of Science
U Career Success University of Utah
The University of Utah

“The more we learn about how animals can regenerate tissues, how those features have been lost in us and other animals [through evolution], that’s going to help us think about our limitations and how we might engineer strategies to help us overcome those. Our hope is that we build this knowledge base in animals that are really accessible and can be studied in incredible detail, then use that knowledge to generate more focused experiments in mammals, and then maybe someday in human patients.”
—Jamie Gagnon, Assistant Professor

Read “Why can zebrafish regenerate damaged heart tissue, while other fish species cannot?” here: https://attheu.utah.edu/research/why-can-zebrafish-regenerate-damaged-heart-tissue-while-other-fish-species-cannot/

Read more about research happening in the Gagnon Lab here: gagnonlab.org

Photo credit: Matt Crawley
Graphic credit: Megan Okada

University of Utah College of Science
University of Utah Bioscience PhD Program Office
The University of Utah

Please join us for our next guest speaker in our Seminar Series: Duan Biggs, the Olajos Goslow Chair of Environmental Science and Policy from Northern Arizona University.

Dr. Biggs will discuss the origins of the inequity between high and lower incomes groups and the challenges it presents to achieving sustainable and inclusive conservation outcomes, in increasingly polarized societies. He will also include with some initiatives that aim to address these challenges.

Read more about his research here: https://www.resilientconservation.org/founder-duan-biggs

University of Utah College of Science Northern Arizona University

Please join us for an SBS Informal Seminar with Assistant Professor Dr. Devanshi Jain from Rutgers University on April 25th in Crocker Science Center 205.

Dr. Jain investigates the control of dynamic gene expression program that drives gametogenesis and roles of post-transcriptional RNA regulation in the orchestration of meiotic events

Read more about her research here: https://thejainlab.org/overview

University of Utah College of Science Rutgers University

“I was initially drawn to biology by my love of animals and the outdoors, but after taking my first cell biology class [microbiology (BIOL3210), taught by Dr. Naina Phadnis] I fell in love with molecular biology and microbiology.”

Noah will be continuing his education as a PhD student at the U, in Microbiology and Immunology

Click here for feature story: https://www.biology.utah.edu/biology-student-stories/biology-student-stories-noah-amrstrong/

University of Utah College of Science U Career Success University of Utah

Join us for Andy Sposato’s PhD defense: “Charting stem cell fate in the zebrafish testis”

🗓️Friday, April 12
⏰2:00 PM
📍ASB 210

Andy Sposato was mentored by Assistant Professor Jamie Gagnon (https://www.gagnonlab.org/).

“An education in intersectional thinking has motivated me to approach my research questions from multiple perspectives, leading to some hypotheses in my dissertation work I find truly fascinating. My research advisor and several other mentors and peers in SBS have also supported my efforts to develop and sustain an equitable and inclusive space in STEM through the creation of the LGBTQ+ STEM Interest Group (with Dylan Klure, Ofer Rog, and Lexy von Diezmann) and the Diversity Fellows Program (with Thien Vu, Denise Dearing, Kent Golic, and many more).” -Andy Sposato

University of Utah Bioscience PhD Program Office
University of Utah College of Science

Counting down to the eclipse!

NASA’s eclipse tracker is an amazing tool: https://eclipse-explorer.smce.nasa.gov/

Ever wonder how animals react to an eclipse? https://bbc.com/future/article/20240405-solar-eclipse-2024-effect-on-animals

University of Utah College of ScienceThe University of Utah

Free public event!
Consider how ideas are generated and enriched by communication across disciplines and the reciprocal influence of science, art, and humanities. Join us for 3 remarkable keynote speakers and panel discussions led by experts across the The University of Utah

Learn more: https://www.scienceandliterature.org/schedule

Keynote addresses:
🎤Claudia Rankine (claudiarankine.com): Poet and scholar. Co-founder of The Racial Imaginary Institute. Recipient of the Bobbit National Prize for Poetry and numerous other awards.
🎤Brian Greene (briangreene.org): Physicist renowned for superstring theory; author. Professor of physics and mathematics Columbia University
🎤Bevil Conway (bevilconway.org): Artist and Neuroscientist with expertise in the neuroscience of color. Senior investigator National Eye Institute and National Institute of Mental Health

University of Utah College of Science University of Utah College of Humanities

What do you love about the U? Chances are we are working on it, let’s work on it together! Join me in supporting the U and students like Bailey, who will continue his genetics research as a PhD student this fall.

Thanks to several generous donors, your gift will be matched!
Learn more: https://givingday.utah.edu/o/university-of-utah-39/i/giving-day-2024/s/biology-gd-2024

🔗in bio for Bailey’s story and more senior spotlights.

University of Utah College of Science U Career Success University of Utah University of Utah Giving

starts NOW! Make a difference with your gift at https://givingday.utah.edu/o/university-of-utah-39/i/giving-day-2024/s/biology-gd-2024

There are many generous donors who have agreed to match donations made during Giving Day to the School of Biological Sciences.

Biology $35,000 Match
An anonymous donor has agreed to give $1 to Biology Undergraduate Scholarships for every $1 donated to any fund within the School of Biological Sciences, up to $35,000 total! Double the impact of your gift today.

Jeff Marks and Nancy Yu Biology Match
Jeff Marks and Nancy Yu will generously match 1:1 the first $5,000 in contributions to any area in the School of Biological Sciences!

University of Utah Giving

College of Science - U Giving Day 2024 Join us in our campus-wide celebration of Philanthropy! Make a difference on U Giving Day, April 2 and 3, 2024. What do you care about? Chances are we are w...

“A lot of times when you're wrong about something you learn the most. Not being afraid of being wrong provides an opportunity to learn from the people around you.”

Kaden will be the first in his family to graduate with an undergraduate degree and has his sights set on earning a PhD.

Read more about Kaden here: https://www.biology.utah.edu/biology-student-stories/kaden-wall/

University of Utah College of ScienceThe University of Utah

Please join us for our next guest speaker in our Seminar Series: Director of Research Dr. Kevin Hultine at the Desert Botanical Garden.

Dr. Hultine investigates the strategies plants use to endure extreme heat and rising global temperature caused by climate change.

Read more about his research here: https://dbg.org/research-conservation-staff/kevin-hultine/

University of Utah College of Science Desert Botanical Garden

Meet Postdoc Julie Jung!

Julie’s path to graduate school, and onto the U as a postdoctoral fellow, has included research in the rainforests of Panama with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and more recently, discovering a new life form in the Great Salt Lake – nematodes! Julie is an ecologist, geneticist, journalist, graphic designer, and amateur mountaineer. She has made learning science into an adventure!

Join us!
🗓️ March 27
⏰4PM
📍ASB 210

Explore the path to grad school, BioLuminaries hosts...
Dr. Jung (jungjulie.com, werner-lab.org), grad students Emmanuel Ngwoke (hollienlab.com) and Atoosa Samani (shapiro.biology.utah.edu)

University of Utah College of Science University of Utah Bioscience PhD Program Office U Career Success University of Utah
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