Spring 2009-Summer 2010 Department of Biology

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Faculty News……………………2-4

Staff News…………………………..4

SCSE Academy Inductee………5

ITLS Award………………………...5

Scholarships & Awards……..6-7

Commencement……………….8-9

Gifts to the Department………10

Olga Lakela Herbarium……….11

New Bagley Classroom………..11

Alumni News……………………..12

Life Scientist

MESSAGE FROM TIMOTHY CRAIG DEPARTMENT HEAD

As I start my first term as department head, the view from my new office is inspiring to me. Looking out at Lake Superior and the sur-rounding boreal forest is a daily reminder of how lucky we are to be biologists in Duluth. I also feel fortunate to become head of the department at a time when I believe the quality of teaching and research we provide are both outstanding. Even in the middle of summer, the department is buzzing with activity. When I walk through the halls of the Swenson Science building, I see students taking classes from award winning faculty, and research labs full of students working on undergraduate and graduate research pro-jects.

Since I joined the faculty ten years ago, we added the Swenson Sci-ence building and renovated the Life Science building. This im-provement of our facilities for teaching and research has been tre-mendous. In addition, I am excited about the opportunities pro-vided in the new Bagley Nature Area classroom that just opened earlier this summer. This innovative state-of-the-art sustainable field lab building is truly amazing.

It is an exciting time here in the department, where we are not only reaching new highs in levels of research funding, but also showing new levels of success in innovative teaching. I am enjoying work-ing with the departmental staff, including our newest members, who are providing outstanding assistance to the faculty and stu-dents. I can’t imagine anywhere else I would rather be working!

Matthew Andrews and Les Drewes, of UMD's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the UM Medical School-Duluth, along with a colleague in the Twin Cities, have designed a fluid that may increase the sur-vival rates of people who suffer from hemorrhagic shock during a trauma. For more information see http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2009/August/18.html.

Matthew Andrews received a two-year, $1.1 million Grand Opportunities award from the National Institutes of Health. The project, “Genetic Control of Heart Function in a Hibernating Mammal,” includes bioinformatic analysis by co-investigator Marshall Hampton, assistant professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics. The highly competitive Grand Opportunities program is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and sup-ports research that enables growth and investment in biomedical research and development, public health and health care delivery.

Congratulations to Colleen Belk—she was awarded the 2009 Linda Larson Woman of the Year Award. The Linda Larson Woman of the Year Award was created to honor women who exemplify going above and beyond to make a difference at UMD.

Colleen Belk, along with co-author Virginia Borden, published a first edition textbook "Human Biology" Pearson Education Inc in 2009.

Farewell and best wishes to Steve Bortone—he relocated to Tampa, FL as the Executive Director of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

Donn Branstrator received Barrington High School’s 2010 Distinguished Graduate Award (Barrington, IL). He is being honored for his career in environmental awareness and education. Branstrator attended the high school’s sen-ior award program on May 18, 2010, where he received the award.

Clay Carter and colleagues recently published: Arabidopsis thaliana as a model for functional nectary analysis, in Sexual Plant Reproduction, Cell wall invertase 4 is required for nectar production in Arabidopsis, in Journal of Ex-perimental Botany, and Modified vacuole phenotype1 is an Arabidopsis myrosinase-associated protein involved in endomembrane protein trafficking, in Plant Physiology.

Clay Carter had a manuscript ” Identification of differential gene expression in Brassica rapa nectaries through expressed sequence tag analysis" accepted by PLoS ONE. Carter's co-authors were Marshall Hampton, assistant pro-fessor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, UMD students Emily Chambers, Jerad Ehrnriter, Jonathan Gralewski, Teresa Joyal, and Brian Kram, and Wayne Xu of the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute .

UMD students voted and awarded Clay Carter the Outstanding Academic Advisor award and John Dahl the Out-standing Faculty award. Congratulations to both Carter and Dahl who were recognized at a reception in the Kirby Ballroom on April 11, 2010.

Tim Craig attended the symposium of Japanese Society of Promotion of Science Core-to-Core research project in Amsterdam in Dec. 2009. This is a cooperative research program with funding from the Japanese government for collaboration of researchers at Kyoto University with researchers at the University of Amsterdam, the Free Univer-sity of Berlin, the Max Planck Institute, the University of Western Ontario, and UMD. The grant has sponsored re-search visits by Kyoto University faculty and students to the UMD during the last two summers, and it will support future research visits by UMD faculty and students to Kyoto, Japan. UMD was recently informed that the project had been recommended for a further three years of support.

In 2009, Julie Etterson received the American Society of Natualist President's Award for the 'best' paper pub-lished in The American Naturalist in 2008 for the paper: Shaw, R.G., C.J. Geyer, S. Wagenius, H.H. Hangelbroek, and J.R. Etterson. 2008. Unifying life history analyses for inference of fitness and population growth. American Naturalist 172:E35-E47.

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FACULTY NEWS

Julie Etterson also recently published three articles: Richardson, D.M, J.J. Hellmann, J. McLachlan, D.F. Sax, M.W. Schwartz, D. Ashe, J.R. Etterson, P. Gonzalez, T. Root, O. Sala, S. Schneider, D. Ashe, J. Brennan, A. Camacho, J. Rappaport Clark, R. Early, D. Fielder, J. Gill, S. Polasky, H. Safford, A. Thompson, and M. Vellend. 2009. Multidimensional evaluation of managed relocation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106: 9721-9724.

Galloway, L.F. and J.R. Etterson. 2009. Plasticity to canopy shade in a monocarpic herb: within- and between-generation effects. New Phytologist 182:1003-1012.

Galloway, L.F., J.R. Etterson and J. W. McGlothlin. 2009. Contribution of direct and maternal genetic effects to life-history evolution. New Phytologist 183: 826-838.

Julie Etterson also received the grant: 2009-2012, J. Cavender-Bares (PI), J.R. Etterson and J.D. Sparks (Co-PIs). National Science Foundation. "Collaborative Research: Adaptive differentiation, selection and water use of a season-ally dry tropical oak: implications for global change" for $565,529.

Stephanie Guildford and 13 colleagues published (2008) PCB concentrations in lake trout (Salvelinus namay-cush) are correlated to habitat use and lake characteristics in Environmental Science and Technology 42:8239-8244. This showed that lake trout in larger, more southerly, lakes had higher concentrations of PCBs in their tis-sues.

Robert Hecky and colleagues published a paper that was selected as one of the top 100 science stories of 2008 by Discover magazine. In a 37-year experiment with a lake in northern Ontario, scientists demonstrated that control-ling phosphorus in particular is the key to reversing eutrophication. To reference the paper: Schindler, D.W., R.E. Hecky, D.L. Findlay, et al...2008. Eutrophication of lakes cannot be controlled by reducing nitrogen input: Results of a 37-year whole-ecosystem experiment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105: 11254-11258.

The UMD Center for Freshwater Research and Policy (CFRP) published Fresh Water: Understanding and solving freshwater problems facing the world, a publication that highlights aquatic research being conducted at UMD and how freshwater professionals in northern Minnesota are making a global impact. This publication includes informa-tion about the research of Randall Hicks, John Pastor, Donn Branstrator, Gerald Niemi, Tom Hrabik, Robert Hecky, Stephanie Guildford and a number of graduate students within the biology department. Copies of this publication can be downloaded from the CFRP website (www.d.umn.edu/cfrp).

Randall Hicks, with colleagues from Old Dominion University, the University of Connecticut and the University of Georgia, received a four-year, $2.3 million collaborative research grant from NSF to investigate the role of organic-rich aggregate particles in the persistence of pathogenic microbes in aquatic ecosystems

Thomas Hrabik (PI) received the grant: 2009-2012. Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Cisco assessment, habitat use and behavior—sub proposal within—Sustaining Lakes in a Changing Environment (SLICE), $99,210 direct of $825,000 total.

Thomas Hrabik recently published several articles: Stockwell, J.S., Hrabik, T.R., O.P. Jensen, D.L. Yule, and M. Balge. 2010. Empirical evaluation of predator-driven diel vertical migration in Lake Superior. In Press. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

Jensen, O.P. D.J. Gilroy, M.J. Vander Zanden, S. Chandra, Z. Hogan, B.C. Allen, T.R. Hrabik, B.C. Weidel. 2009. Evaluating alternative fisheries for taimen, Hucho taimen, in Mongolia. In Press. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

Yule, D.L., J.D. Stockwell, D.R. Schreiner, L.M. Evrard, M. Balge, and T.R. Hrabik. 2009. Seasonal abundance of pelagic forage fishes and spawning-Size cisco in the western arm of Lake Superior. Fisheries Research 96:39-50.

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FACULTY NEWS

  

Ruth Hemming retired in June 2009 after serving as the department’s Executive Administrative Specialist for

nearly 21 years. Her contributions to the department will have an impact for years to come.

Nellie Danke, departmental receptionist, started her new adventure in UMD’s Residence Life and Housing Depart-

ment in August 2009. Nellie was instrumental in keeping the daily operations running smoothly in the office.

Welcome to Jesse LeMay and Michelle Anderson—Jesse joined the Biology Department in June 2009 as Principal

Accounts Specialist and Michelle joined the department in October 2009 as Principal Office & Administrative Spe-

cialist. Michelle will greet you with a smile while juggling the tasks of keeping our busy departmental office in tip

top shape. Jesse is our liaison to the students—and no problem is too big or small for him to handle!

FACULTY NEWS

Stockwell, J.S., M.P. Ebener, J.A.Black, T.R. Hrabik, R.A. Kinnunen, W.P. Mattes, J.K. Oyadamari, S.T. Schram, D.R. Schreiner, M.J. Seider, S.P. Sitar, and D.P. Yule. 2009. A synthesis of cisco (Coregonus artedi) in Lake Superior: impli-cations for native fish recovery in the Great Lakes. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 26:626-652.

Jensen, O.P., P.M. Yurista, T.R. Hrabik, J.D. Stockwell. 2009. Densities and diel vertical migration of Mysis relicta in Lake Superior: a comparison of optical plankton counter and net-based approaches. Verhandlungen-Internationale Vereinigung Fur Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie 30:957-963.

Joanne Itami (Adjunct faculty & SCSE staff) served as the UMD Commission on Women grant committee chair during 2008-09. Several grants of up to $1000 are awarded to individuals or organizations seeking assistance in providing pro-grams or activities which directly benefit a broad group of women in the UMD community each year .

The National Science Foundation awarded a $600,000 research grant to Tim Kroft (PI) and Jon Rumbley (co-PI), Col-lege of Pharmacy Duluth. The grant will provide support for a graduate student and multiple undergraduate researchers from June 15, 2009 to May 31, 2013. Kroft’s research involves discovery and characterization of proteins that are in-volved in sperm - egg recognition, binding and fusion during fertilization in the small nematode roundworm C. elegans. Many of these proteins are closely related to human proteins that may also be involved in fertilization. Kroft’s research will impact the diagnosis and treatment of male-factor infertility and lead to the development of new contraceptive choices .

Richard Melvin, post-doctoral associate, has been awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH F32). This three-year postdoctoral fellowship is the first ever NIH F32 awarded at UMD and will support Melvin’s research in the laboratory of Matthew Andrews. Melvin’s project title is “Naturally occurring thyroxine derivatives and hibernation.”

Allen Mensinger co-authored two articles: Maruska, K.P., W.J. Korzan and A.F. Mensinger. 2009. Individual, temporal, and population-level variations in circulating 11-ketotestosterone and 17β-estradiol concentrations in the oys-ter toadfish Opsanus tau. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 152: 569-578.

Maruska, K.P. and A.F. Mensinger. 2009. Acoustic characteristics and variations in grunt vocalizations in the oyster toadfish Opsanus tau. Environmental Biology of Fishes 84:325-337.

Gerald Niemi (NRRI, Biology, UMD), Lucinda Johnson (NRRI, UMD), and Valerie Brady (NRRI, MN Sea Grant, UMD) are three of eight co-authors of the International Joint Commission’s white paper entitled “Ecosystem responses to regulation-based water level changes in the Upper Great Lakes.” This paper forms the basis for evaluation of ecosys-tem effects of the potential water level regulation plans in the Upper Great Lakes of Huron, Michigan, and Superior and their connecting channels. A digital copy of the paper may be obtained from mbell@d.umn.edu.

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STAFF NEWS

The newest biology inductee into the SCSE Academy of Science and Engi-neering is Dr. Kurt Fausch. Dr. Fausch graduated from UMD in 1976 with a BS in Zoology and has gone on to become an internationally recognized fisheries ecologist. After leaving UMD, Dr. Fausch began graduate studies at Michigan State University where he worked with Dr. Ray White study-ing behavioral interactions among stream salmonids. He received his MS in 1978 and a PhD in 1981. During his years at Michigan State, Dr. Fausch developed a strong affection for trout streams and their inhabitants and he decided to pursue those interests when he accepted a position as an assis-tant professor in the Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology at Colo-rado State University in Fort Collins. At Colorado, Dr. Fausch rose through the academic ranks to associate pro-fessor in 1987 and full professor in 1992. His research initially focused on habitat use and competition among native and invasive species of sal-monids. More recently, in collaboration with both US and international colleagues, Dr. Fausch has done some remarkable work which has contrib-uted greatly to our understanding of the linkages between aquatic and ter-restrial ecosystems.

2009 SCSE ACADEMY INDUCTEE—DR. KURT FAUSCH

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2009 Lyle J. Shannon

Dr. Fausch has been a very prolific contributor to the scientific literature, having published over 90 refereed articles, book chapters and edited volumes. His work has been funded by over $3 million in grants from the National Science Foundation, the US Forest Service, the US Bureau of Reclamation, the US Department of the Interior, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the US Army, the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science, the US Environmental Protection Agency and other organizations. In recognition for his work, Dr. Fausch was awarded the inaugural International Fisheries Science prize by the World Coun-cil of Fisheries Societies in 2008. In presenting the award, the committee noted that, “Dr. Fausch’s nomina-tion included strong support from 11 eminent fisheries biologists across the world, providing extensive evi-dence of his international recognition and appreciation of the high level of his work."

Dr. Fausch was centrally involved in the development of RiverWebs, which is a recent 1-hour documentary film that explores cooperation between scientists in Japan and the United States in achieving innovative un-derstanding of stream ecosystems. This film has aired on the Public Broadcasting System and was shown at UMD when Dr. Fausch visited in 2009. To learn more about it, access www.riverwebs.org/index.html.

The Inspirational Teacher of the Life Sciences Award (ITLS) is given to a Department of Biology faculty member whose teaching has inspired others to think critically about the biological sciences. This is a person who has inspired students to do their best work and has helped shape careers. The ITLS recipient is an innovative teacher who offers stu-dents guidance, and inspires current and future teachers to pursue excellence in the classroom.

The first recipient of the ITLS Award was Lyle Shannon. It was presented to him during a short ceremony on March 27, 2009, in which he presented a seminar titled Life on the Edge: The turbulent history of the amphibians. Paul Bates was our second recipient of the ITLS Award and was presented with the award on March 26th, 2010. Bates gave a seminar titled Obesity-Related Illness: A Biological Look at a Key Con-tributor to the Health-Care Crisis. Both Lyle and Paul embody the true spirit in which the award was cre-ated, inspiring so many students, faculty, and staff to pursue excellence everyday!

2010 Paul W. Bates

INSPIRATIONAL TEACHER OF THE LIFE SCIENCES AWARD

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

  

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2009 Scholarship & Award Recipients

The generosity of alumni and friends make it possible for the Department of Biology to present annual awards and scholarships to students within the department. This year’s reception was

held on May 6, 2010 at the Griggs Center on UMD’s campus. Thank you to the committee mem-bers who had the difficult task of choosing this year’s winners from the many deserving appli-

cants. Congratulations to the following award and scholarship recipients!

A. Jane Berry Warren Memorial Scholarship—awarded to a full-time undergraduate biol-ogy student who demonstrates financial need.

2010—Andrew Radzak

Ed & Alma Turcotte Scholarship – awarded to motivated, high-achieving biology or cell biol-ogy majors. This scholarship is dedicated with profound respect and everlasting love to the mem-ory of Edgar L. and Alma Turcotte of Carlton, Minnesota. Their three sons and two daughters all attended UMD.

2009—Jerica Burchard, Amy Herbranson, Kate Jacobs 2010—Emily Kalkbrenner, Molly Nustad, Alyssa Stafki

Ernest & Tyyne Niemi Scholarship – dedicated to the memory of Ernest and Tyyne Niemi, children of immigrant Finnish parents who lived and raised families in northeastern Minnesota. This scholarship is dedicated toward supporting a junior or senior biology or cell biology student from the local region.

2009—Jessica Koskiniemi 2010—Jaclyn Reinemann

John McCabe Scholarship – awarded to a high-achieving biology or cell biology students who demonstrate financial need.

2009—Steven Carlson, Laura Engman 2010—Rachel Toczydlowski

Karim Pre-Veterinary Medicine Award – sponsored by Dr. Reza-ul (Raj) Karim and family in memory of Sikander M. Karim, Dr. Karim’s father. The preveterinary medicine student who receives this award demonstrates high academic achievement, a dedication to the veterinary pro-fession, maturity, and reliability.

2010—Marissa Garry

Mowbray Scholarship – awarded to a motivated and high-achieving biology major who intends to pursue graduate school in the Biological Sciences, exclusive of the medical and health sciences, and based on merit and commitment to a professional career in the biological sciences.

2009—Ryan Sass 2010—Samantha Lindemann

Outstanding First Year Biology Student Award – given to a freshman student who excels in the introductory biology courses, Biology 1011 and 1012, and is selected by the instructors of these courses.

2009—Lisa Duberowski 2010—Molly Gorder

Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Assistant—awarded to the top undergraduate teaching assistant in the Department of Biology. The recipient is chosen by faculty members us-ing established criteria.

2010—Amy Herbranson, Shayna Olsen

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award – presented to the top graduate teach-ing assistant in the Department of Biology. The recipient is chosen by faculty members using es-tablished criteria.

2009—Brian Black, Diana Ostrowski, Jacqueline Welch 2010—Rebecca Gordon, Katie Lassi

T.O. Odlaug Scholarship – given in honor of Dr. Theron O. Odlaug, a former biology professor and department head who retired in 1978. Dr. Odlaug passed away in 2000. This scholarship was initiated when an anonymous donation was made in memory of Dr. Odlaug. The anonymous alumnus remembered the inspiration and help given by Dr. Odlaug. This scholarship is pre-sented to a biology student based on merit and need.

2009—Andrew Razdak, Alyssa Stafki, Rachel Toczydlowski 2010—Lauren Schulberg, Abigail Thomas, Kaaren Westberg

T.O. Odlaug Award – given to a senior biology student nominated by the biology faculty. The recipient has demonstrated strong leadership qualities, service to the department, and participa-tion in undergraduate research.

2009—Tyson Sievers 2010—Bryce Mieczkowski

UMD Peterson Memorial Scholarship – given through the Swenson College of Science and Engineering (SCSE) and rotates between SCSE departments. It is presented to a motivated, high-achieving student with demonstrated financial need.

2009—Katie Dobberpuhl 2010—Nolan Van Damme

  

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2010 Scholarship & Award Recipients

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

COMMENCEMENT 2009

B.S. Biology Brian Roger Aluni Keylor Roys Andrews Juvitus Mundu Atu-Tetuh Amy Beth Babcock Kimberly Jo Bacharach Meredith K. Bacon Jill Marie Balgaard* Kelsey Suzanne Bennett Kate Kristine Bennington** Sabrina Desiree Boggio Matthew Ryan Case Jena Marie Christopherson Wilson James Chung Lindsey Marie Clairmont* Allison Meryl Coffman Scott Robert Connelly Elizabeth Helen Cope Andrea Janet Deckert Carla M. Determan*** Cassandra Lynn Dillon Elise Marie Doll Jacob David Duehn Robert Steven Duerst Bryan Owen Duncanson Jenny Michelle Erdmann** Allison Anne Evertz Tyler Edward Fadness Daniel Jeffrey Fordice Briana Rae Francisco Kelly R. Fuller Jacob Wayne Gauer*** Elizabeth Marie Groth* Aleesha Ann Gruenhagen Nathaniel Paul Guimont** Stephanie Ann Hacker Brian James Hadfield John William Hample Anna Marie Hildebrandt Jennifer Marie Hoffenkamp Meghan Elizabeth Hoffman Joshua James Hohertz Jeffrey Roy Holden Kaitlen L. Hosch Rodrick Paul Houdek Kelsey LeAnn Huppert Sierra Elise Jefferson Kayelyn Nicole Johnson Timothy David Johnson Brandon James Keinath Bryan Joseph Kobach Tesa Marie Korf Amanda Anna Kossak Glenna Rose Kozarek Emily Kay Kranz Aaron Mathias Kuefler Heather Jo Kuelbs

William Louis Landmark Amy Marie Laurila Krysta Lea Litherland Kathryne E. Longen Meg J. Macdonald Sara Marie Marshall Shawn M. McCarty David Martin McIntosh Jason Norman Menge Chelsey Jo Mickolichek Erin Hawks Monahan Derek Michael Nash Pamela Jean Nelson Jessica Ruth Olmanson Karen Marie Olson Leif Walter Olson Ryan John Oster Molly Angela Ostwald Joseph Scott Parpala Laron Amanda Ploederer Nicole Lynn Rath Benjamin Andrew Reed Alex Elizabeth Ripley Daniel James Roehler Angela L. Rosenow Alexander Thomas Rowan Joshua Matthew Schaack** Danielle Rose Scheuer Madeline Elise Schramm Raymond Lee Seaburg* Jeremy L. Seichter Abhilasha Shrestha* Matthew John Harold Sipola Brittney Lyn Slavik Jenna Marie St. Claire Rachael Lynn Stanze Paul Charles Syverson Patrick Peter Tandberg Lindsay Anne Taute* Elisa Janett Telander Mark Benjamin Thiele Josie Marie Thole Tara Marie Thompson Andrew Lynn Trom Barite Abdulkadir Tusa Maribeth Magdelin Vaske Michael Jay Villa Kim E. Volkart Brady Gene Walter Barbara Anne Wasson Ashley Kaye Weber* Zachary Thomas Weber Callie Nicole Weiss* Nicole Leigh Wojack Nathan Peter Young

B.S. Cell and Molecular Biology Katie A. Abata Steven Perry Abramson II Emma Louise Bahe** Nadejda Ivanova Bozadjieva Victoria K. Caskey Benjamin E. Christianson Raymond Bryan Erickson Travis Donald Fahrenkamp Charla Jeanne Falconer Nicholas J. Fetter* Michael Joseph Flatten Daniel Jeffrey Fox Ryan Juan Galloway Michael A. Hagler Andrea Jeanne Hammer Brandon Scott Heckmann Taylor Jensen Hill* Jaclyn R. Hillesheim* Sonja Elizabeth Iverson Nicole M. Jahoda Bryan Kevin Koenig Andrew Michael Krzebietke Nathan R. Lewis Mubarek Mustafa Lolo Jessica Mae Malone* Andrew Ryan Mattila Sean Aaron Mitchell Michelle Marie Nemee** Kelsey Leigh Pautz** Alexander J. Pehl Brianna Jenell Peters Kelsey Leigh Pieper* Gregory Earl Sanger Jaime Lynn Sekenski Tyson John Sievers* Emily R. Stromquist** Matthew Theodore Stuart Nicholas Michael Taurinskas** Bradley M. Uher Daniel Warren Vollhaber B.A.S. Teaching Life Science Megan Elizabeth Bugge Thor Orbec Eggen Alison Rachel Piepho Joel Sarah Elizabeth Kamilewicz Robert Steven Perala Sarah Jo Spillers Dylan Bradley Viss* B.A. Biology Michael W. Carroll Edward Josiah Neal

  8  Honor Graduates are recognized as follows: ***summa cum laude, **magna cum laude, and *cum laude

Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies were held at noon on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at the Du-luth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC). This was UMD’s largest commencement, with 1,200 students at the event and a total of 1,800 receiving undergraduate degrees during the academic year. Lois and Jeno Paulucci, civic leaders, humanitarians and internationally recognized entrepre-neurs were honored during the ceremony. Lois Paulucci was presented the Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award, and Jeno Paulucci was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for public service. From their humble roots in Northeastern Minnesota, the Pauluccis have created and have built more than 50 companies and organizations worldwide, which led to economic opportunities for thousands of workers. Over the years, Jeno and Lois Paulucci have quietly helped hundreds of people when faced with personal hardships, from providing transportation for seeking medical care to financial help dur-ing a crisis. The student speaker was James Cook, a graduate in the School of Fine Arts and the College of Liberal Arts from Amherst, WI.

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COMMENCEMENT 2010

Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies were held at noon on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at the Du-luth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC). Over 100 faculty members and 1,160 students marched in the event. The total number of students receiving undergraduate degrees this academic year is 1,735. Two Washington D.C. distinguished national political experts and UMD graduates, Mi-chael Berman (Duluth native) and Richard Teske (South St Paul native)--a Democrat and a Republi-can--were the featured speakers. The two also received Honorary Doctor of Laws Degrees for Public Service, presented by UMD Chancellor Kathryn A. Martin. The honorary degree is the highest award conferred by the University of Minnesota, recognizing individuals who have achieved acknowledged eminence in cultural affairs, in public service, or in a field of knowledge and scholarship. The student speaker at the commencement ceremony was Ashley Brown, a summa cum laude graduate in the Labovitz School of Business and Economics and a magna cum laude graduate in the College of Liberal Arts from Hawley, Minnesota. Ms. Brown earned a bachelor of business administration degree in Health Care Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication.

Honor Graduates are recognized as follows: ***summa cum laude, **magna cum laude, and *cum laude

B.S. Biology Caleb Thomas Anderson Chandra Lee Baker Rebecca A. Bartley Joshua Dean Bednar Kevin Michael Buria*** Cole M. Carlblom Brenna Elise Carlson Steven A. Carlson*** Christina Lynn Carter** Jessica Elizabeth Chatterton Amanda Elin Childs James E. Cooke John Dalton Matthew Ray Davis Yoni Noah Debesai Amy Jean Dziuk Kyle Richard Edgeton Eric Scott Freeman Beth Moria Fruehauf Savannah Colleen Giese Andrew Paul Goracke Grace Kathryn Halverson Kali D. Hamp Sill Natalia Kohl Hart Benjamin T. Heggestad Amy Tonette Herbranson*** Kyle Ray Hokeness Steven Nelson Holcombe Jonathan Michael Hovey Catherine Sue Johnson Courtney Elizabeth Johnson Kayla Mae Judes* Tracy Lynn Kelzer Katie A. Kemppainen Derek Alan Kent Heikki Eino Kiheri Britney Anne Kotaska Kevin Michael Krawiecki Leah Ann Lasiuk Chantal Elaine Liepold Jarad Jeffrey Lindstrom Margaret Elizabeth Litchy Allison Joy Litfin Craig Lyle Lundquist Laura Anne Macht Corey John McBride Elizabeth Seon-Hee McKennna Brandon J. Mickelson Bryce David Mieczkowski* James J. Miettunen Tracie Marion Mills Philip Henry Mlaker Sarah Ann Mo*

Adam Michael Nelson Joseph Chimezie Nnebedum, Jr. Brent Stuart Noble Daniel James O'Connor Shayna Caley Olsen Andrew Ryan Olson Brooke Danielle Olson Celia Marie Olson Kendelle Maree Olson David James Opack* Casey James Parrott Glen Thomas Pederson‐Linn Alexander Timothy Peters Melissa Marie Peterson Christopher Daniel Ploenzke Michelle Rose Remackel Andrew Thomas Richter Heather Wilford Rogers Brian Everett Rose Nicole Rose Sable Marcus John Salzer Joi‐Lin Quinn Sanchez Seth Alexander Sayles Luke N. Schalekamp Kelsey Elizabeth Schill Kari Lynn Seegmiller Heather Marie Selin Jonathan George Senkler Ashley Mae Shankle Casie L. Sherwood Lauren M. Skrbich Jessica Kristina Smith Danielle Lee Souder Kyle Matthew Staples Kaylee M. Timbers Bryn Kathleen Van Hoomissen*** Michael David Villeneuve Peter M. Wagner Noel Elizabeth Warmbold Andrew Michael Wendlandt Mitchell Charles Wilkinson Gaylen Patrick Williams Luke D. Wilson Brandon Michael Wood** B.S. Cell and Molecular Biology Jena Faye Arne Anthony Bernard Auge Michael Harlan Bambenek Christopher Todd Banek Jacob Thomas Beyer Shannon Detienne David James Eckwright Michael Edward Fealey*

Wayne Charles Gatlin III* Eric Steven Goldschmidt** Anna Kathleen Hafdahl Thomas Andrew Haroldson** David Roy Hasbargen Ryan Matthew Hillesheim Matthew Charles Hinderaker Laura Ingrid Hoganson Teresa Lynn Joyal Rami Jubran Stephanie Lynne Keller Brendan John Kiefer Jesse John Klingelhoets* Alexander James Larson Anne Christina Larson*** Yuan Li Molly Ann McShea Heather Ruth Moline Kara Marie Naber Amanda Marie Olinger Bridget Christina Parsons Ryan David Sass* Adelle C. Schumann Justin David Skluzacek Lee Dale Stokes** Russell Mark Thyen Katherine Suzanne Winiarczyk Douglas Alan Wojciechowski B.A.S Teaching Life Science Nathan Jon Anderson Sarah Melissa Brengman Kirk Gednalske Jamie Lynn Griffin Andrew Reid Hegdahl Kari A. Jorgenson Samantha Marie Maxey Kristofor Dean McNeal Andrew Cornelius Nissen Anna B. Travaglione B.A. Biology Kristin Elizabeth Campbell Timothy John Cyr Andrew Nurre Driscoll Jamie Lynn Griffin Kayla Jane Jendro Mark Bernard Olszewski Candice Mary Smrekar Alisha Jean Stalker Luke Nicholas Taintor Alicia Kathleen Wolf

GIFTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

The Department of Biology warmly thanks the following alumni and friends who supported

our students and programs with a charitable gift. Listed below are the names of individuals

who donated to Biology Department funds between January 1, 2009 and May 31, 2010.

Thank you for your generous contributions!

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Ms. Sheila Arimond Dr. Thomas Becker Mr. John Bernard Dr. Edward Bersu Dr. Caroline Boehnke-Becker Ms. Susan Brenneman Dr. & Mrs. Hollie Collins Mrs. Margaret Dooley Dr. Barbara Farrell Mrs. Betty Foster Professor John Green Drs. Brent & Dayle Haglund Mr. Gregory Hansen Ms. Helen Hanten Mr. Paul Hanten Mr. Michael Healy Ms. Rachelle Hoeft Dr. Carl Hornfeldt Mr. Douglas Jensen Ms. Kathleen Jensen Dr. Elsa Keeler Ms. Cheryl Kelley Dr. & Mrs. Jerome Klun Ms. Marcia Knaak Ms. Barbara Jo Kohlstedt Mr. John Kohlstedt Mr. Walter Leaders

For more information on supporting our students and programs with a gift,

please contact Tricia Bunten, Development Director, at 218-726-6995,

toll-free 1-866-999-6995 or email: tbunten@d.umn.edu.

Mrs. Ann Lima Mr. Philip Loucks Dr. David Lurye Mr. Thomas Matthiae Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Mayasich Mrs. Mary Ellen McFarland Professor & Mrs. Allen Mensinger Ms. Beth Middleton Dr. Thomas Mowbray Mr. & Mrs. James Munter Mr. Mark Nickell Professor & Mrs. Gerald Niemi Mr. James Niemi Mrs. Heather Parenteau Mr. Richard Peterson Dr. Rolf Peterson Mr. & Mrs. Donald Rakowsky Ms. Kay Rezanka Dr. Laurence Skog Dr. & Mrs. Terrence Tumpey Dr. Archie Vomachka Dr. Bruce Warren Mr. Daniel Weaver Dr. Paul & Mrs. Janice Wicklund UPM Blandin Paper Company Sigma Xi

The year 2010 represents several major anniversaries for the Olga Lakela Herbarium, UMD Biology’s museum of scientific plant specimens. On March 12 Dr. David Schimpf, Director of the Herbarium and Associate Professor of Biology presented the Biology departmental seminar “The Olga Lakela Herbarium: Anniversaries for ‘A Cabinet of Natural History’” in recognition of this. It has been 120 years since the birth of Olga Lakela, 75 years since she came to Duluth State Teachers College and started a herbarium, 50 years since the University of Minnesota Board of Regents named the herbarium for her, and 45 years since the publication of Olga Lakela’s A Flora of Northeastern Minnesota. This book is again available for purchase through Minnesota Archive Editions (www.upress.umn.edu/html/backprint.html). The herbarium’s website is at www.d.umn.edu/biology/facilities&affiliated_units/Herbarium.html The operating budget for the herbarium comes entirely from gifts, which may be made by con-tacting the Swenson College of Science and Engineering (www.d.umn.edu/scse/giving/) and specifying the Olga Lakela Herbarium Fund.

OLGA LAKELA HERBARIUM MARKS ANNIVERSARIES

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Dr. Olga Lakela University of Minnesota—Duluth

1952

UMD held grand opening ceremonies June 22, 2010 for the exciting new state-of-the-art sustainable Bagley Classroom located on the 55 acre Bagley Nature Area adjacent to the UMD campus. Amazing in its far-reaching sustainable design, the new Bagley Classroom is designed to be a LEED Certified PLATINUM Award building which will serve as a vital learning tool and a model of sustainable design and construction for all of Northern Minnesota.

Designed by internationally noted Duluth architect, David Salmela, with construction and landscaping done entirely by the staff of the UMD Department of Facilities Management, the 2,000 square foot classroom rests quietly in the woods covered in zinc siding with a green veil of vegetation on the roof.

Primarily used by the UMD Department of Biology for science instruction ranging from general biology labs to the study of ecosystem ecology, ornithology and entomology, the Classroom will also be used for environmental studies, geography studies, teacher education, outdoor management/operations studies, art/drawing, recreational outdoor programs, and early childhood learning activities.

NEW BAGLEY

NATURE AREA

CLASSROOM

What’s New? Please contact us at biol@d.umn.edu with

your update to be included in a future issue of the Life Scientist. We’d love to share your good news….Did you change your job, get married, receive a special

recognition from a professional organiza-tion? Let us know!

Please remember to include your:

• Name

• Contact Information

• Degree Earned and Graduation Year

• A Short Paragraph with Your News

NON-PROFIT ORG

US POSTAGE PAID

Department of Biology 207 Swenson Science Building

1035 Kirby Drive Duluth MN 55812-3004

Phone: 218-726-6262

Fax: 218-726-8142 E-mail: biol@d.umn.edu

Website: www.d.umn.edu/biology

CREDITS Contributors: Michelle Anderson, Nellie Danke, Susan Beasy Latto,

Dr. David Schimpf Photos: Brett Groehler

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employ-ment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, or sexual orientation.

ALUMNI AND FRIENDS Rhett Johnson (M.S. Biology, 2006) received the Univer-sity of Minnesota Crookston’s 2009 Distinguished Teach-ing Award. Rhett taught Botany, Plant Taxonomy, Ecol-ogy, Prairie Ecology, and Wetland Ecology at Crookston from 2006 through 2009. He now holds a research/management position with The Nature Conservancy in the northern Great Plains.

Dr. David Lurye (B.A. Biology, 1980), D.D.S., P.C., was inducted as President of the Colorado Dental Association in June, 2009. Dr. Lurye is involved in various service activities within the dental profession. For the past six years he has volunteered one day per week as a clinical instructor at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine; he is involved in a multi-nation research project on head, facial and dental anatomy affiliated with Dr. Terry Tanaka’s Clinical Research Foundation in San Diego; and recently chaired a national committee for the ADA on Access to Care for the underserved.