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The Life ScientistThe Life ScientistUMD Biology Department News

Summer 2003

Biology DepartmentHosts Alumni Eventby Ruth Hemming

A flurry of activity took place in theBiology Department on Saturdaymorning, September 28th, as studentvolunteers, staff and faculty memberswere busy making last minutepreparations for the first BiologyDepartment Alumni Event. It appearedthat festivities could be held outside asscheduled, but everything was movedindoors when it started to rain. Despiteinclement weather, attendance wasgood!

The event began with registration and abarbeque, with lots of good food andtime for everyone to get acquainted.Conversations ranged from “old times”to what’s happening now, as well as whatthe future holds for the department.After the barbeque, a short informalgathering was held in Life Science 185,where Interim Department Head MattAndrews welcomed everyone andintroduced Dr. James Riehl, Dean of CSEand current Biology faculty. He gave ashort presentation about recent eventsin the Biology Department and an

Swenson Science Building In Construction Phaseby Linda Holmstrand

The noises of excavation and construction right outside my window are a constant reminder ofthe reality of the James I. Swenson Science Building. Construction is proceeding on the 33million dollar facility that will boast state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms and researchfacilities for the Biology and Chemistry departments. Upon completion, the three storystructure will feature a classroom laboratory building and an adjacent research wing. It isscheduled to open in time for spring semester in January of 2005. You can follow theconstruction progress by visiting the Labsciences Webcam site at http://www.d.umn.edu/pictures/labsci_cam.html.

The new building in progress is also a reminder, for some us “senior alumni”, of the planning,groundbreaking and construction of the current Life Science Building. One of the photosaccompanying this article shows Dr. T.O. Odlaug turning the ceremonial first shovel at the 1966groundbreaking ceremony of the Life Science Building. In the other photo, Randall Hicks,Biology Department Head, and Merry Jo Oursler of the Building Committee, take part in theAugust, 2002 groundbreaking ceremony for the Swenson Science Building.

While current faculty, staff and students can experience the construction ofthe new building firsthand, there are many opportunities to be a part of thisnew facility. Alumni and friends of the department are encouraged tocelebrate their time at UMD, or honor a relative or a favorite professor, bygiving a lasting memorial. You can commemorate your education at UMD or

honor someone else for as little as $1,000,which can be paid over a period of up tofive years. Other naming opportunitiesinclude sponsoring undergraduate researchbays or student studies for $5,000 orteaching laboratories for $40,000.Contributions of any amount are alwayswelcome for support of undergraduate

(tabove) 2002 — Dr. Randall Hicks andDr. Merry Jo Oursler break ground forthe Swenson Science Building(below) 1966 — Dr. T.O. Odlaug turns ashovel for the Life Science Building. Tothe extreme right is Dr. RaymondDarland, Provost

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update on the Swenson LaboratoryScience Building. Matt also introducedBrian Morse, local architect for thebuilding, who volunteered to attend thisevent to discuss the new building plansand answer questions. At various timesin the program, names were drawn fromthe registration basket for door prizesand following the program, everyonewas invited to tour the department.Several research laboratories were openand research posters were displayedthroughout the Life Science Building.Biology faculty members were presentto greet visitors and answer questions.

We extend a big THANK YOU toeveryone who participated in making it afun and informative day. Special thanksgo to Stacy Johnson, Senior OfficeAssistant, and her committee: KateAndrews, Linda Holmstrand and TriciaBunten, CSE Development Officer, whowere responsible for planning the event.Hundreds of alumni in the area werecontacted and invited to participate. Itwas a great job and a fun day! We lookforward to planning another specialbiology alumni event when the newbuilding is completed and urge alumni tovisit the Biology Department website(www.http:d.umn.edu/Biology) or tocontact the Biology Department (218-726-6262) with questions or comments.

Suzanne Hargis, Jack Hofslund and Matt Andrews discuss thefaculty photo gallery (Above).

Kate Andrews and Pearl Brugger register alumni.(Below)

The Alumni Reunion Flyer announced the gala. (Above)

Ed Bersu and Linda Holmstrand enjoy reminiscingabout the ‘60s. (Top right)

Ruth Hemming completes a bulletin board display.(Right)

Biology students Pearl Brugger, Becky Bolstad and AnnWilcox help with decorations. (Below)

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research. Consider joining with other alumni or family members to name a room inhonor of a former faculty member, relative or other significant person. The newbuilding already has a sponsored General Biology Laboratory given by Theron E.Odlaug in memory of his uncle, Dr. Theron O. Odlaug, former Biology DepartmentHead. For additional information on naming opportunities in the James I. SwensonScience Building, please contact Tricia Bunten, Development Director for the Collegeof Science and Engineering at (218) 726-6995 or toll-free at 1-866-999-6995. Also,this fall watch for the “naming brochure” which will be mailed to all Biology andChemistry alums.

(Groundbreaking continued from page 1)

New Faculty

Dr. Julie Ettersonby Stacy Johnson

Dr. Julie Etterson recently completed herfirst academic year as a new facultymember in the Biology Department. Thispast year she taught Plant Diversity, asenior seminar and mentoredindependent student research, as well asinitiating the setup of her researchprogram. About her first year at UMD,Julie says “I am enjoying the challenges ofmy new position.”

Dr. Etterson received her Ph.D. inEcology from the University ofMinnesota in 2000. Prior to herdoctorate research, she earned twobachelor’s degrees, one in Biology fromthe University of Minnesota and one inInternational Studies from the School forInternational Training in Brattleboro,Vermont. Her background includes anumber of international experiences inBelgium, India, Brazil and Japan. At theUniversity of Minnesota, Julie used plantquantitative genetics to studyevolutionary response to global warming

in a prairie legume species. Aftergraduate school, she did postdoctoralresearch studying parental environmentaleffects on an herbaceous forest speciesthat grows in the Blue Ridge Mountainsof Virginia. Two papers have recentlybeen published on this work: “Theinfluence of light on paternal plants inCampanula americana (Campanulaceae):Pollen characteristics and offspring traits”in the American Journal of Botany and“Outcrossing rate and inbreedingdepression in the herbaceousautotetraploid Campanula” in Heredity.

Her current research encompasses bothecological and evolutionary perspectives.She is interested in the impacts ofspecies invasions and is also collaboratingwith Dr. Tim Craig on the topic ofspeciation in the gallfly/goldenrodrelationship, where her role will focus onthe genetics of goldenrod evolution.

Julie and her husband, Dr. MatthewEtterson, and daughter Abigail moved toDuluth last summer from Charlottesville,Virginia. Matt currently has a postdoctorate appointment at the EPA labwhere his is modeling bird reproductivesuccess as a function of exposure toagricultural pesticides. Abigail will bejoined, in July, by a new baby brother.Julie has a single-semester leave for falland then will return in the spring of 2004to teach General Biology and to developan upper division course in her discipline.The department is happy to have Julie’sexpertise in teaching and research andsincerely welcome her and her family toUMD.

Dr. Julie Etterson

Ruth Hemming and Stacy Johnson work on the LifeScientist.

Life ScientistInside This Issue

Faculty/Staff News 4

Emeritus Interview 5

Faculty Publications 6

Faculty Funding 7

Graduate Students 10

Undergraduate News 14

For Alumni 22

Gifts and Donations 23

The Life Scientist is also available on theBiology Department Website:http://www.d.umn.edu/biology/

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New Faculty

Dr. Anna Rachinskyby Stacy Johnson

Dr. Anna Rachinsky joined the UMDDepartment of Biology last fall as anassistant professor in the area ofdevelopmental biology, replacing Dr.Conrad Firling who recently retired. Dr.Rachinsky received her Ph.D. in Zoologyfrom the University of Tuebingen,Germany, in 1990, where she wasinvolved in research and educated in theareas of developmental biology,developmental physiology, entomologyand sociobiology. In 1995, at the sameinstitution, she finished her Habilitationin Zoology, an additional qualificationrequired for faculty positions inGermany. Since 1990 she has conductedindependent research at institutions inGermany, France, Canada and the US,and collaborated with colleagues inNorth America, Europe, and Asia. Herwork has been funded by the GermanScience Foundation DFG, the Max KadeFoundation/New York, and by USDA/CSREES. In 1997, Dr. Rachinsky joinedthe USDA Bee Research Laboratory inBeltsville, MD as a visiting scientist. Mostrecently, she worked as a researchassociate in the Department ofEntomology at Kansas State University.Here at UMD, Dr. Rachinsky plans toestablish a research program focused onphysiological mechanisms that controlthe environmental-dependent expressionof alternative phenotypes in insects. Herprimary research interest lies in theneuroendocrine regulation of castedevelopment in honey bees (Apismellifera). Since the spring semester

ended, she has spent a great deal of timeat “the farm” (University-owned formeragriculture experiment station on JeanDuluth Road), building hives andremodeling space for her bee colonies.She is also setting up and equipping herresearch lab in the Life Science Buildingfor the physiological and biochemicaltechniques that are part of the research.Anna’s primary teaching responsibilitywill be in Developmental Biology, whichshe taught this past spring semester andwill offer again in the fall. She will alsoteam-teach a part of General Biology Iand in the future develop an upperdivision specialty course in an area ofher expertise.On a more personal note, Anna and herhusband, Philip Fay, moved to Duluth lastAugust and recently purchased a homein Duluth Heights. Dr. Fay is affiliatedwith NRRI, where he is continuingresearch initiated at KSU. He isinterested in the changes in grasslandcommunities as they are affected byglobal climate changes. We are veryhappy to welcome these biologists toDuluth!

Faculty/Staff News Briefs

Double congratulations to Deb Shubat,UMD Greenhouse Director, whoreceived a 2002 Outstanding ServiceAward for Continuous Service. Last year,she also received a President’s Awardfor Outstanding Service.Dr. Randall Hicks has been on asabbatical leave this past academic year.He spent the fall semester writing andworking in his research lab at UMD.During most of the spring seemster heworked in the Department of MarineSciences at University of Georgia inAthens, learning some DNAfingerprinting techniques which will beincorporated into his research onmicrobial communitites. He returned tohis position as Biology Department Headin July, 2003.Congratulations to Stacy Johnson, ourreceptionist and Senior Office Assistant,on her engagement to Matt Roforth(Biology M.S. 2002). Matt and Stacy planto be married in August.Best wishes and Congratulations toGeetha and Anatharama Rishi,parents of a baby girl, Aivarshini, born

Dr. Anna Rachinsky

on March 29, 2003. Rishi is a Post Docworking in the research laboratory ofDr. Arun Goyal.Julie Etterson and Anna Rachinskyboth completed Faculty Tech Camp inJanuary of 2003. This is an opportunityprovided by a campus technologyinitiative and is an intensive period ofworkshops and hands-on activities,where faculty use technology tools indesigning and teaching their courses.Lyle Shannon, our departmentalcomputer resource person and digitaltechnology consultant, was a participantin the Advanced Tech Camp program.David Schimpf, director of the OlgaLakela Herbarium, reports that theHerbarium provided an electronic copyof its vascular plant database to the U.S.National Park Service in January, 2003.This will be used to document past orpresent occurrences of vertebrateanimals and vascular plant species withinthe boundaries of the 270 park units inthe U.S. and its territories.

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by Ruth Hemming

Mel Whiteside retired in January2000, completing a phased retirementbegun in 1997. He was a facultymember in Biology since 1986 andserved as Department Head from 1986-1989. Mel taught Ecology Laboratory,Plankton Ecology, Biology and Societyand his most sought-after class, CoralReef Studies. During his phasedretirement, Mel taught during the fallsemester each year.

In May of 1997, Mel and his wife Gildi,took delivery of their 39' Valiantsailboat. Mel’s comments: “For those ofyou who are interested, she is sloop-rigged, displaces 18,500 lbs (before Gildiprovisions), and is a very traditional, off-shore sailing vessel, i.e., more stronglybuilt than coastal or lake vessels.” Theychristened her “Itasca” after fond

memories of more than 25years of teaching andresearch at Lake Itasca.After their first summer onLake Superior, they shippedher to San Diego, wherethey began their Pacificcruising.

I caught up to Mel and Gildiby today’s mode ofcommunication (e-mail) togather information abouttheir life since retirementand asked these questions:

Where has the Itasca has taken yousince retirement?Mel summarized their voyages asfollows:1998 - San Diego – Mexico — Hawaii1999 – Hawaii – Alaska — InlandPassage — California2000 – California — Mexico2001 -2003 – Mexico — New Zealand,via Marqueses, Tuamotus and SocietyIslands — Tonga and FijiCurrent plans are to visit New Zealandvia Fiji—Vanuatu—New Caledonia—Australia. “Our longest Pacific passagewas Mexico to the Marqueses,approximately 2400 nautical miles and22 days. We had slow going throughthe Intertropcial Convergent Zone(ITCZ), an area of fickle winds andsqualls. The timing of all passages isdictated by major weather patterns, i.e.,avoidance of areas and times of tropicalstorms. Sailing into the southern ocean

and east of the International Date Linecan be confusing. The cold weathercomes from the south, and as you gosouth latitudes increase; traveling westgets us progressively to smallerlongitudes east.”

What is your typical day like on theItasca?“On passages, we are kept busy byconstantly monitoring Itasca—maintaining battery levels, watching forchafing of lines, occasional radiocontacts, and normal housekeeping. Ourroutine on passages is rather simple (ingood weather). During daylight it’s 4hours on, 4 hours off. At night weswitch to longer watches, 1800-2400 and2400-0600. Breakfast and a mid-daymeal are our main meals, otherwisesnacks with tea. On all our passages welose weight—probably a combination ofsimple foods and constant motion thatkeeps our metabolic rates up.”

Do you have a favorite place in allyour travels?“At the end of passages are exoticlandfalls. Each island has its specialattractions; we cannot say we have afavorite, although the dancing in Tahitidid get my attention. Gildi has enjoyedthe challenge of trading tools (mine) forblack pearls (hers) in the Tuamotus.Another benefit from cruising is a newawareness of geography. In our earliercruising we learned the islands of theAtlantic and Caribbean—this time weare learning about the location, history,

and cultures of the Pacific Islands.Here’s a little quiz for you history buffs:On what small, notable island is themetropolis of Itascatown?”

Do you continue to do any biologicalstudies during your retirement?“It’s not difficult to retain an interest inbiology, as we explore southernlandscapes, sail offshore, and swim incoral areas—even Gildi has taken anintense interest in reef shark behavior. IfI miss any aspect of university life it’sinteracting with students, which I thinkwould be the case for most of my facultycolleagues.”

How much longer do you anticipateresiding on the Itasca and travelingthe world and what are your plansfor life after Itasca?“It’s difficult to predict the future—wehave property in Bayfield, Wisconsin, butwe are not too excited about the longwinters...maybe we’ll split them up byheading south.”

Mel and Gildi return annually to thestates to visit family and friends andusually spend several weeks in theDuluth area. We look forward to theirvisit this year and wish them continuedhappiness in their retirement adventures!

Visit with a Professor Emeritus

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E.J.Gustafson, M.G.Knutson, G. J. Niemi,and M.Friberg. 2002. Evaluation ofspatial models to predict vulnerability offorest birds to brood parasitism bycowbirds. Ecol. Appl. 12:412-426.

Giulivi, C. and Oursler, M. J. 2003.Role of Mitochondrial Oxygen andNitrogen Reactive Species in Signaling.Signal Transduction by Reactive Oxygenand Nitrogen Species: Pathways andChemical Principles. M. Torres, J.Fukuto, and H. J. Forman, eds. KluwerPress, New York. [book chapter]

Gingery, A., Bradley. E., Shaw A., andOursler, M. J. 2003.Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinaseCoordinately Activates the MEK/ERKand AKT/NF_B pathways to MaintainOsteoclast Survival. J. Cellular Biochem.89:165-79.

Pastor, J., B. Peckham, S.D. Bridgham,J.F. Weltzin and J. Chen. 2002. Plantcommunity composition, nutrient cycling,and alternative stable equilibria inpeatlands. Am. Nat. 160: 553-568.

Recent Faculty Publications

Buck, M.J., Squire, T.L., and Andrews,M.T. 2002. Coordinate expression ofthe PDK4 gene: a means of regulatingfuel selection in a hibernating mammal.Physiol. Genomics 8: 5-13.

M. T. Andrews, Glueck, S.B. andHeldmaier, G. 2002. “Settling down for along winter’s nap. Coordinate expressionof the PDK4 gene: a means of regulatingfuel selection in a hibernating mammal.”Physiol. Genomics 8: 3-4.

F. R. Prete, L. E. Hurd, D. K. Branstrator,and A. Johnson. 2002. Responses tocomputer-generated visual stimuli by themale praying mantis, Sphodromantislineola (Burrmeister). Anim. Behav. 63:503-510.

J. R. Etterson and L.F. Galloway. 2002.The influence of light on paternal plantsin Campanula americana(Campanulaceae): Pollen characteristicsand offspring traits. Am. J. Bot. 89: 1899-1906.

A. Goyal. 2002. Glycolate metabolismin algal chloroplasts: Inhibition bysalicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM). Physiol.Plantarum 116: 264-270.

N. Mir, A. Goyal and R. Beaudry. 2002.Fruit fungal interactions: Prospects for avolatile communication system. MolecularInsight in Plant Biology: 181-198. P. Nath,A.K. Matto, S.A. Ranade and J.H. Weil,Eds. Oxford & IBH Publishers/SciencePublishers Enfield, NH. [book chapter]

D. Ghoshal and A. Goyal. 2002.DHAP-reductase(s) in plants and algae:Potential use of glycerol system forimproving stress tolerance in plants. Rev.Plant Biochem. Biotech. 1: 21-32.

A.S. Rishi, N.D. Nelson and A. Goyal.2002. DNA Microarrays: Geneexpression profiling in plants. Rev. PlantBiochem. Biotech. 1: 81-100.

B. Chinthapalli, A.S. Raghavendra, A.S.Rishi and A. Goyal. 2002.Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase fromC4 plants: properties and regulation.Rev. Plant Biochem. Biotech. 1: 143-159.

A.G. Kassel and A. Goyal. 2002.Phytoremediation of trichloroethyleneusing hybrid poplar. Physiol. Mol. Biol.Plants 8: 3-10.

D. Ghoshal, H.D. Husic and A. Goyal2002. Dissolved inorganic carbonconcentration mechanism inChlamydomonas moewusii. Plant Physiol.Biochem. 40: 299-305.

D. Ghoshal, D. Mach, M. Agarwal, A.Goyal and A. Goyal. 2002.Osmoregulatory isoform ofdihydroxyacetone phosphate reductasefrom Dunaliella tertiolecta: Purificationand characterization. Protein Expres. Purif.24: 404-411.

Maki, R. and R. E. Hicks. 2002.Salmonella typhimurium survival andviability is unaltered by suspendedparticles in freshwater. J. Environ. Qual.31:1702-1709.

Hrabik, T. R. and C. J. Watras. 2002.Recent declines in mercuryconcentration in a freshwater fishery: theeffects of de-acidification and decreasedatmospheric mercury deposition. Sci.Total Environ. 297: 229-237.

M. A. Rashid, M. S. A. Bhuiyan, M. A.Hossain, M. A. Quader, M. T. H. Nutanand M. Reza-ul Karim. 2002. (+) –Usnic Acid, A Antimicrobial Agent fromParmella kamtschandalis. Pakistan J.Microbiol. 1: 25-28.

A. F. Mensinger and M. Deffenbaugh.2002. Acoustical neural telemetry fromfree-swimming fish. Bioacoustics 12: 333-334.

M.A. Jones, G. J. Niemi, J.M. Hanowski,and R.R. Regal. 2002. Poisson regression:a better approach to modelingabundance data. Predicting SpeciesOccurrences, Issues of Accuracy and Scale,J.M. Scott and 6 co-editors. Chapter 35:pp.411-418. Island Press, Washington,D.C.

J.M.Hanowski, P.T. Wolter, and G. J.Niemi. 2002. Effects of prescriptiveriparian buffers on landscapecharacteristics in northern Minnesota,USA. J. Am. Water Resour. As. 38: 633-639.

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(Continued on next page.)

Current Faculty Funding

M. T. Andrews, U.S. Army ResearchOffice, “Genetic Control ofCarbohydrate Metabolism in the Heartof a Hibernating Mammal,” 7/1/99 –6/30/03, $270,000.

M. T. Andrews, UM Graduate SchoolGrant-in-Aid, “High-throughputScreening of Gene Expression duringMammalian Hibernation,” 1/1/02 – 6/30/03, $28,041.

M. T. Andrews, Minnesota MedicalFoundation, “Hibernation Strategies toPrevent Ischemia and ReperfusionInjury,” 8/1/02 – 7/31/03, $13,000.

M. T. Andrews, National Institutes ofHealth (Co-PI, Rolf Gruetter, PI,“Dynamic MRI and MRS Studies of FocalNeural Activation,” 4/1/03 – 3/31/07,$1,457,013.

C. M. Belk and L. J. Shannon, CSETechnology Fee Grant for equipment forcell biology laboratory course, $20,000.

D. K. Branstrator (PI), and L. J. Shannon,Minnesota Sea Grant College ProgramExternal Research Grant, “Effects ofphysical and chemical stressors onsurvival of the resting egg stage ofBythotrephes longimanus,” 03/03-02/05,$54,867 and 1 GRA salary for 2 years.

M. Zhou, N. Wattrus, and D. K.Branstrator, Minnesota Sea GrantCollege Program External Research

Grant, “A multi-disciplinary study: thespatiotemporal distribution andproductivity of zooplankton in thewestern arm of Lake Superior,” 03/01-02/03, $90,000 and 1 GRA salary for 2years.

D. K. Branstrator, University ofMinnesota Grant-in-Aid, “Chemicalinduction of body defenses in the waterflea, Daphnia,” 07/01-07/03, $25,900.

T. P. Craig et al, National ScienceFoundation, “Networking our ResearchLegacy: Infrastructure to Document,Manage and Access Ecological Data,”‘99-’04.

J. Etterson and T. Craig, CSETechnology Fee Grant, instructionalequipment, 2002-2003, $4,655.

Goyal, A., N. Nelson, and V. Kapur,Sota Tec, “Production of High ValueBiomolecules in Transgenic HybridPoplar,” 04/03-03/04, $100,000.

Goyal, A. (Co PD), N. Nelson, and C.Edwardson, USDA-CSREES, “ForestProducts Research for BusinessDevelopment,” 7/02-6/04, $250,207.

R. E. Hicks, Minnesota Sea GrantCollege Program, “Survival and Virulenceof Pathogenic Bacteria within MicrobialCommunities Attached to SuspendedParticles in a Freshwater Estuary,” 03/99-12/03, $48,210.

R. E. Hicks, M J. Sadowsky, and L. B.Johnson, Minnesota Sea Grant CollegeProgram, “Identifying the Sources ofColiform Bacteria in Coastal Ecosystemsand Their Relationship to Land Use,”02/01-01/03. $95,460.

R. E. Hicks, University of MinnesotaDuluth, “Identifying Sources ofEscherichia coli and Uncovering SeasonalChanges in Archaeal and BacterialPicoplankton Communities,” 08/02-12/02, R/V Blue Heron ship time for 6 days.

M. J. Sadowsky and R. E. Hicks (Co-PI),Minnesota Sea Grant College Program,“Sources and Impacts of ‘Naturalized’Escherichia coli in Coastal Environments,”02/03-01/05, $100,000; $46,440.

L. Holmstrand, CSE Technology Grantfor portable ‘COW’ (Computer onWheels, computer, projector andaccessories) for classroom use, $5300.

T. Hrabik, N. Wattrus, D.K. Branstrator,B. May, E. Ralph and S. Stark, MinnesotaSea Grant College Program ExternalResearch Grant, “Assessingdeterminants of lake trout reproductivesuccess:comparison of Lake Superiorreef complexes with contrasting survivalrates of young lake trout,” 03/03-02/05, $70,000 and 1 GRA salary for 2years.

T. Hrabik, Bradley Fund for theEnvironment-Sand County Foundation,“Assessment of the restoration ofwinter-kill influenced fish communityusing winter aeration,” 2002, $8,600.

T. Hrabik, (Co-PI), R. D. Ricketts, andN. Wattrus, National ScienceFoundation, “OceanographicInstrumentation, R/V Blue Heron,”2003, $45,600.

T. Hrabik, collaborator with DonSchreiner, Minnesota’s Lake SuperiorCoastal Management Program,“Development of a hydroacousticsurvey design for the Minnesota watersof Lake Superior,” 2003, $36,900.

T. Hrabik, D. R. Schreiner, M. P. Ebenerand M. H. Hoff, Great Lakes FisheryCommission-Coordination ActivitiesProgram, “Compilation and analyses ofLake Superior Salmonine diets: a multi-agency collaboration,” 2002-2004,$46,000.

M. R. Karim, B.Clarke, E. Feroz, N.Hazareesingh, T. Isbell, and M. Kamau,Chancellor’s Small Grant, “Cultural andGlobal Perspectives on Terrorism,” 10/01-06/03.

M. R. Karim and B. Clarke, Dept ofHealth and Human Resources, “Initiativefor Minority Students: Bridges to theBaccalaureate,” 07/01-06/04.

M. R. Karim and B. Clarke, “MinorityAccess for Research Career (MARC),”07/02-06/06.

M. R. Karim and P. Kiprof, Chancellor’sSmall Grant, “Activity of Benzoboroxoleand it’s derivatives against Viruses,Bacteria and Fungi—An Interdisciplinaryand Collaborative Project,” 03/02-12/02.

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M. R. Karim, P. Kiprof and V. Zhdankin,Chancellor’s Small Grant, “Activity ofTea Polyphenols, Benzoboroxole andhypervalent Iodine compounds as anti-cancer drugs for Melanoma—AnInterdisciplinary and CollaborativeProject,” 10/02-05/03.

A.R. Klemer (Project Partner),P.Shubat and E. Chu, Minnesota Dept ofHealth, “Economics-based Analysis ofChildren’s Environmental Health Risks,”07/03-06/05, $95,000.

A.R. Klemer (Associate PI), M.Mageau, R. Lichty, J. Skurla, and W.Fleishman, Northeast RegionalSustainable Development Partnership,“The Iron Trail Assessment Project,” 12/01-06/03, $36,633.

A. F. Mensinger, CSE Technology FeeGrant, equipment for Biol 5760,Physiology of Fishes, 2002, $7,000.

S. M. Highstein, A. F. Mensinger (Co-PI), NIH PPG 51511, “NeuralMechanisms of Hearing and Balance,”1999-2004, $25,000.

A. F. Mensinger, Minnesota Sea Grant,“In-situ biosensors for monitoring fishphysiology and behavior,” 02/01-01/03,$66,000 and graduate student fellowship.

A. F. Mensinger, Minnesota Sea Grant,“Olfactory recording from free-swimming steelhead trout,” 02/03-01/05, $66,000 and graduate studentfellowship.

G.J. Niemi (PI), R. Axler, J. Hanowski,G. Host, T. Hrabik, L. Johnson, C.Johnston, J. Kingston, and CarlRichards, US Environmental ProtectionAgency, “\h \r 1Development ofenvironmental indicators of condition,integrity, and sustainability in the GreatLakes Basin,” 2001-2005, $6,000,000.

G.J. Niemi (PI) and C. Johnston.National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration, “Development ofenvironmental indicators for the USGreat Lakes using remote sensingtechnology,” 2001-2005, $600,000.

G.J. Niemi(PI) and J. Hanowski, NorthCentral Forest Experiment Station,Chippewa National Forest, SuperiorNational Forest, USDA Forest Serviceand US Fish and Wildlife Service“Monitoring bird populations inMinnesota’s national forests,” 1991-present, $247,360.

G.J. Niemi (PI), Minnesota LegislativeCommission on Minnesota Resourcesand Department of Natural Resources,“Effects of changes in the forestecosystem on the biodiversity ofMinnesota’s northern forest birds,”1991-2003, $2,112,473.

M.J. Oursler, Department of the Army,“Mechanisms of Transforming GrowthFactor Beta Regulation of TumorProgression in Metastatic Cancer,” 10/00-09/03, $322,754.

M.J. Oursler, Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals,“Molecular Mechanisms of TransformingGrowth Factor Beta Stimulation ofOsteoclast Differentiation: PotentialTargets in Treating Pathological BoneLoss,” 01/02-12/02, $25,000.

M.J. Oursler, Whiteside Institute forClinical Research, “2 Methoxy estradiol:a potential novel therapy to blockmetastatic breast cancer progression,”01/03-12/03, $9,000.

J. Pastor (PI), Y. Cohen, R. Moen, andB. Dewey, National Science Foundation,“Moose population cycles, ecosystemproperties, and landscape patterns onIsle Royale,” 1998-2003, $300,000.

J. Pastor (PI), P. Wolter, NASA,“Mapping and modeling forest change ina boreal landscape,” 2000-2003,$349,841.

J. Pastor , National Science Foundation,“Wild rice population dynamics andnutrient cycles,” 2002-2006, $543,046.

S.B. Ramaswamy, A. Rachinsky (Co-PI), USDA/NRI, “Heliothis virescens:Model for signal transduction ofallatotropism in moths,” 10/01-09/03,$130,000.

L.J. Shannon, Visual and DigitalImaging Lab Summer Research Grant,“Development of a digital underwaterphotography technique to monitorzooplankton communities,” 06/02-05/03, $2,000.

Current Faculty Funding (continued from page 7)

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From the Department Head by Matt Andrews

During the 2002-2003 academic year,the Department of Biology saw growth,in both the number of faculty and thenumber of students we serve. Thissummer we are also seeing growth in theconstruction of the James I. SwensonScience Building. This state-of-the-artfacility will be a tremendous boost to ourmission of teaching, research andservice. Our department will still occupypart of the Life Science Building evenafter we move into our new home inJanuary 2005. You can view constructionof the Swenson building via a web camlink through the Department of Biologyweb site or directly at http:/www.d.umn.edu/pictures/labsci_cam.html.This past year, faculty member LyleShannon upgraded our departmentalwebsite, including features on both ofour new faculty members, Drs. JulieEtterson and Anna Rachinsky. Both Julieand Anna began their appointments inAugust 2002. Julie Etterson taught PlantDiversity during her first semester oncampus and has initiated a researchprogram that uses a quantitative geneticsapproach for studying plant adaptationsto environmental change. AnnaRachinsky has replaced the recentlyretired Conrad Firling as ourdevelopmental biology instructor and iscontinuing her well-established researchon neuroendocrine control of insect

development. In other faculty news,Randall Hicks was on sabbatical leave atthe University of Georgia. He resumedhis duties as Department Head beginningJuly 2003.

On the Friday of HomecomingWeekend 2002, Class of 1961Department of Biology alumnusDr. Jerome Klun was inducted into theCollege of Science and EngineeringAcademy of Distinguished Alumni.Dr. Klun’s revolutionary new insectrepellant, SS-220, is viewed as a likelyreplacement of the long-standingrepellant DEET. Details on his discoverywere recently published in the June 16,2003 issue of The Scientist (http://www.the-scientist.com). The day afterthe ceremony, the department hosted abarbeque for our alumni and friends sothat they could meet the faculty, toursome of our teaching and research labs,and hear the latest information on theSwenson building from the local architectand CSE Dean James Riehl. Despitewind and rain outside, the lunch anddisplays were a big success inside. The

next planned event of this type will bean Open House of our new building in2005.

In the classroom, our ongoing efforts toimprove the freshman experiencecontinued as two new freshman seminarcourses were offered last springsemester. Dr. Joanne Itami taught anexciting new course on DarwinianMedicine and Linda Holmstranddeveloped a course on exotic andinvasive species. Due to the rapidlychanging character of modern biology,the department is continually updatingits curriculum to offer our students themost up-to-date material. Revisions inthe aquatic biology and cell biologycurricula are currently being led by theefforts of Dr. Andrew Klemer andDr. Merry Jo Oursler, respectively.The Biology Graduate Program has alsogrown in both student number andquality. A 2001 external review of theDepartment of Biology states “UMDmay, in fact, have one of the finest MS-level graduate programs in ecology inthe country.” This program is led by ourDirector of Graduate Studies, Dr. JohnPastor. Dr. Pastor is an outstandingresearcher who routinely appliesmathematical theory to the study ofecology. He has won numerous awardsand earlier this year he was recognizedby the Institute for Scientific Information(ISI HighlyCited.com) as one of themost highly cited ecologists in the world.In other research news, Dr. AllenMensinger was notified in June 2003 thathe will receive a large National Science

Foundation (NSF) grant to study“Acoustic Detection in Free-swimmingToadfish”. The Department of Biologywas also fortunate to receive a glimpseof the inner workings of NSF when Dr.Tim Craig hosted NSF Program Manager,Dr. Sam Scheiner in February 2003. Dr.Scheiner delivered a seminar and metwith UMD faculty to discuss grantapplications and procedures forevaluating NSF grants.

Overall it has been a good year in theDepartment of Biology and we arelooking forward to the next few yearswhen we transition into our new facility.Near-term challenges for the UMDDepartment of Biology include anexpanding enrollment combined withshrinking state appropriations. However,in my year as interim department head, Ihave been amazed at how well theBiology faculty and staff meet thesechallenges and continue to offer ourstudents the best possible education inthe biological sciences.

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2002On May 16, 2002, the conferring ofgraduate degrees took place at aceremony in the Romano Gymnasium onthe UMD campus. The commencementspeaker was George R. “Rip” Rapp, aRegents’ professor of geoarchaeometryand director of the UMD ArchaeometryLaboratory. Master of Science Degreesin Biology were presented to tenstudents:

Fred AsareMary K. KarstBrendan P. KeoughAnne E. LacyAntoinette I. LamkinBrady J. MattssonChristina M. MillerMatthew M. RoforthMichael T. ScottMatthew C. Thompson

2003The Graduate Commencementceremony was held on May 15, 2003 inthe Romano Gymnasium. Following aprelude concert and processional, thecommencement address was presentedby Thomas B. Duff, professor and headof finance and management informationsciences at UMD. Dr. Duff is retiringafter the 2003 academic year and isrecognized as an outstanding advisor andmentor. The students listed belowreceived the Master of Science Degreein Biology at this ceremony.

Kevin M. FlynnDamon M. KruegerJennifer H. MilanMatthew R. Olson

Graduate Commencements[Since the previous newsletter was issued in the winter of 2002, there have been twospring commencements. Starting with the next issue, the Life Scientist will cover events ina single academic year.]

by Lukas Sheild

Michael Aho, a long time resident ofDuluth, received his undergraduatedegree from Moorhead State Universityin Biology, and came to Duluth under theadvisement of Dr. Andy Klemer. Hisgraduate work is in environmentalbiology with an emphasis in aquaticbiology. Mike’s thesis describescompetition experiments betweencyanobacteria and green algae and asksthe question “Do differences in light,climate and hydrogen peroxide influencetheir outcome?” This summer he isworking with the GLEI project wetlandvegetation as a field technician, and willalso start his own experiments for hisresearch. He enjoys canoeing and fishingand the solitude in the outdoors andhopes to teach at a level where he cancontinue research.

Kamal Alsharif, originally fromBethlehem, Israel, received hisundergraduate degree from St. CloudState University and his master’s fromMankato State University. He is attendingUMD for a Ph.D. in water resourcemanagement under the advisement ofDr. Andrew Klemer. His thesis workattempts to measure the efficiency ofwater use in the Palestine territories. Hehopes he can return there to the regionof his birth. He has passed the writtenexam and hopes to pass the oral examby spring of 2004.

Rebecca Anderson, from St. Peter,Minnesota, has an undergraduate degreein Biology and Environmental Studies

from Augustana College in Rock Island,IL. She has an interest in both plantecology and ecological genetics, so isworking with Drs. Julie Etterson andDavid Schimpf in measuring impacts ofthe introduction of non-local plantspecies on local populations. Thissummer Becky attended and volunteeredher time at the annual meeting for theSociety for Conservation Biology held inDuluth. She will also be conducting fieldwork for her research project. Beckyenjoyed teaching in general biology thispast year. Her long-range plans are towork in academia outreach or research,and to promote the management ofnatural resources.

Michael Bourdaghs is not new toUMD, as he received his B.S. Biologyhere in 1999. He originally hails fromStillwater, Minnesota. He has spent timeworking nearby at the University ofMinnesota N.R.R.I. The focus of hisgraduate research is in the realm of plantecology, more specifically, evaluating theconcept of Floristic Quality AssessmentIndex (FQAI). This index ranks plantsaccording to their role in the ecologicalcommunity and must be tailoredregionally. Mike’s research will focus onevaluating the FQAI against otherquantitative and objective measures ofplant community health in the GreatLakes coastal wetlands and is part of theGreat Lakes Environmental Indicatorsproject. Mike is supported as a researchassistant through this project and hisadvisor Dr. Carol Johnston. After

Graduate Student Profiles

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Graduate Students (L to R, kneeling in front): Damon Krueger and Ayuko Kassel, Back Row: WendyHieb, Beth Holbrook, John Sandberg, Brad Ray, Mike Bourdaghs, David Grandmaison, Jennifer Milan

graduate school, Mike plans to continueworking in wetland management and toplay a role in making wetland policydecisions.

Meghan Brown received herundergraduate degree in biology at theUniversity of Michigan and soon aftercame to Duluth. Working with DonnBranstrator, she spends long hoursstudying the distribution and emergenceof Bythotrephes sp. (spiny water flea),specifically the resting eggs and the roleof cumulative environmental stressors indormancy. Working at Island Lake andBoulder Lake, she will estimate hatchingsuccess in a cumulative array of oxygen,temperature and pH environments inlaboratory exposure experiments. Shecompleted her master’s degree in 2001and preliminary exams to Ph.D.candidacy where she was accepted toone field season. She hopes to finish herdegree in 2005 and would like to teachand do research at a University. She hasbeen supported by research surveyingcrustacean zooplankton in the westernarm of Lake Superior and tolerancelimits of B. longimanus to physical andchemical stressors.

Formerly from Auburn, Maine, MichaelCallahan received his undergraduatedegree in both Marine Biology andMolecular Biology from Florida Tech. Hehas been working with optic nerveregeneration in hybrid sunfish with Dr.Allen Mensinger as his adviser. He hopesto finish his thesis this summer and topursue a career in the field of biology.He has been supported as a teachingassistant for Human Anatomy, AnimalPhysiology, and Biology and Society.

When Nathan DeJager is nottromping through the woods in search ofmoose-plant interactions, he enjoys tyinghis own flies and attempting to catch theillusive trout. After attendingNorthwestern College for hisundergraduate degree in Biology andEnvironmental Science, he came toDuluth to pursue graduate research inmoose-plant interactions in the forestunder the advisement of John Pastor.He traveled to Umea, Sweden thissummer to conduct his research where 8enclosures have been constructed, and 4moose population densities have beensimulated. He has received the NorthAmerican Moose Conference Award.Nathan is supported as a teachingassistant and lab coordinator for GeneralBiology.

Adam Deweese comes to us from theUniversity of Tennessee in Knoxvillewhere he received his M.S. in Ecologyand Evolutionary Biology. He is currentlypursuing his Ph.D. from the WaterResource Sciences program at theUniversity of Minnesota twin citiescampus. His thesis research, advised byDr. Andrew Klemer, will focus oncyanobacteria domination in freshwaterecosystems. He hopes to complete hisresearch by the spring of 2004 and tomove back into the field ofenvironmental protection with state orfederal government. Adam is supportedas a teaching assistant for GeneralBiology I and Advanced Lake Ecology.

David Grandmaison, a native ofDuluth, graduated from St. JohnsUniversity where he received his B.S. inNatural Science. David is under theadvisement of Dr. Gerald Niemi and isworking on a project involving landscape

indicators of wetland bird productivity.Dave’s research is designed to takeadvantage of the sensitivity birds have totrack environmental change. Hisresearch proposes that these sensitivebird species can be used as indicators ofthe overall health of the ecosystem. Thefieldwork involves examining landscapepatterns of nest predation and potentialpredator assemblages in coastal wetlandsalong a range of environmentalconditions. Dave hopes to determinewhich measurements are most useful asindicators of ecosystem health. He plansto complete his research this summerand to prepare his graduate seminar anddefend his thesis in September. He hasbeen supported as a teaching assistant in

the Biology Department, teachinglaboratories and serving as labcoordinator for General Ecology andBiology and Society.

Beth Holbrook chose Duluth becauseof her love for fish and the access tothem. She received a degree in NaturalScience from The College of St.Benedict. Beth works with fish ecologyunder the mentorship of Dr. TomHrabik, and will travel to the ApostleIslands this summer to study age-0 laketrout, and to determine the mostimportant factors affecting them. Bethwill be using hydro-acoustics to measurefish and mysid (the main food source oflake trout) population densities.

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Graduate Students (L to R, starting with row 1): Mike Callahan, Adam DeWeese, Rhett Johnson, John Schwalbe, AnnaPeterson, Mike Aho, Hazel Richmond, Kamal Alsharif, Becky Anderson, Jen Schreiber, Christian Matson, Nathan DeJager,Matt Olson

Ultimately she hopes to quantify theeffects of predation, competition andfood availability on the age-0 lake trout.This summer she will continue herresearch and hopes to be done in May of2004. In the future Beth sees herselfearning a Ph.D. then traveling the worldworking in the exciting world of fish. Sheis supported as a research assistant and ateaching assistant for General Biology.

Charlene Johnson’s research hasattempted to predict the earlyvegetation of a wetland created fromdredge material in the Duluth-SuperiorHarbor. She completed her thesis anddegree requirments this spring under theadvisement of Dr. David Schimpf andnow hopes to look for work in privateor government engineering. She wouldalso enjoy teaching at a local college,where she could stay at home and spendtime watching after her young son Alex.Charlene is a seasoned veteran inteaching General Biology II, where shealso served as the laboratorycoordinator.

Rhett Johnson chose to come back toschool after he took an undergraduatedegree at Iowa State University. His areaof study is peat lands hydrology andbotany. This summer Rhett will continuehis research comparing groundwaterlevels to the radial growth of peat landtrees (black spruce and tamarack) in andaround Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Hisgoal is to find whether the radial growthis hampered by raising the water tableand if so, how much. He will alsodetermine the amount of flooding thattrees can tolerate. This summer he willlive and work at Agassiz NationalWildlife Refuge near his more than 50study sites. He is supported as a teaching

assistant for General Biology II lab andEcology.

Ayuko Kassel attended the Universityof Wisconsin, Madison where sheearned a degree in both Zoology andJapanese. She can be found around Dr.Goyal’s laboratory where she studies theisolation and characteristics ofmitochondria from poplar treeprotoplasts. For four semesters, Ayukowas a teaching assistant for GeneralBiology and a lab coordinator for onesemester. She hopes to finish herexperiments and thesis this summer, andwould like to work in a research facilityin the U.S. for a few years following

completion. In the long run she plans onreturning to Japan to pursue work.

Damon Krueger attended theUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison for anundergraduate degree in wildlife ecology.Damon’s graduate work continues totake him down that path by working withfisheries management. This spring hepresented and defended his thesis onmanagement applications for mitigatingthe negative effects of rainbow smelt onnative fishes in the Bear River watershed in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Hisresearch was advised by Dr. Tom Hrabik,and he is the first graduate student ofDr. Hrabik’s to graduate. He will present

his masters research at the AFS meetingin Quebec City this year and will start hisPh.D. studies at the University ofMichigan, Ann Arbor in the fall. Hestrives to teach one day and to continuehis research. Damon has beensupported as a teaching assistant forGeneral Biology. He continues his activelifestyle of football, softball and mountainbiking and enjoys maintaining hissaltwater fish tank.

Christian Matson originally came fromHingham, Maine, but attendedNorthland College for his undergraduatedegree and decided to go to UMD forhis masters. His research is on the upregulation of monocarboxylatetransporters (MCT’s) in the bloodbarrier in response to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures. Hesays that understanding the mechanismsof MCT expression control could lead tofuture therapies for MCT-relateddisease. This summer, he will write histhesis and visit his folks in Vermont. Aftergraduation he hopes to sellpharmaceuticals in the northernWisconsin region, an area he loves totalk about.

Matt Olson also completed hisundergraduate degree in Biology atUMD, and started his graduate researchin environmental microbiology. He hasworked with Dr. Randall Hicks andDr. Rich Axler of the NRRI on seasonalvirus removal to alternative onsitewastewater treatment systems. Hehopes to enter a Ph.D. program at TheUniversity of Iowa next year and tosome day teach and continue researchfor his ”love of the smaller world.” Hehas been supported as a teachingassistant in General Biology, Microbial

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Ecology, Virology, and Microbiology andreceived special department recognitionthis spring as an outstanding TA.

Anna Peterson says “the staff, facultyand other grad students have made myexperience a memorable one”, and shelooks forward to finishing her researchon birds and wetland assessment underDr. Gerald Niemi in the fall of 2004. Thissummer she will be conducting fieldresearch for her thesis in Wisconsin andThe Upper Peninsula of Michigan whereshe’ll be enjoying the outdoors and someof her favorite hobbies such as camping,canoeing and birding. She comes from afamily of canoe racers and has canoedever since she could hold a paddle. Shehopes to make birding into a career andsomeday to obtain her Ph.D. andpossibly teach.

Bradley Ray joins us from Omaha,Nebraska but received hisundergraduate degree at NorthlandCollege in Biology and Fish and WildlifeEcology. His graduate research is infisheries and the study of variability inLake Superior salminine predator diets,characteristics and selectivity. He worksunder Dr. Tom Hrabik and anticipatesfinishing in May of 2004. In his researchhe is compiling all diet data from LakeSuperior predators by state, tribal, andfederal agencies over the last 15 years.The data will be combined with theU.S.G.S. spring forage base data in orderto determine prey selectivity and dietoverlap between predatory salminines.He hopes to earn his Ph.D. in the futureand possibly become a professor.

Hazel Richmond, originally fromFalmouth, Massachusetts obtained herB.S in Biology at University of

Massachusetts, Amherst. Hazel workedin Dr. Mensinger’s lab studying thephysiology of fish. She finished herresearch on the foraging mechanisms ofage-0 yellow perch, and the data will beused in foraging and bioenergeticsmodels that predict growth of fish inlaboratory experiments. She plans tospend this summer teaching marinescience at a summer school in CapeCod, where she’ll be back by the oceandoing the things she loves like swimming,sailing and snorkeling. Hazel wassupported by a graduate teachingassistantship and taught laboratorycourses in General Ecology and AnimalDiversity.

John Sandberg, a recent newcomer toDuluth, received his undergraduatedegree in Biology from St. JohnsUniversity in 2001. John studies aquaticecology, making Duluth a perfect placeto carry out his research. He works withmacrobethic communities of near shorehabitats in eastern Nipigon Bay. Hisfaculty advisor is Dr. Lucinda Johnson,N.R.R.I., where he has been a researchassistant in the invertebrate ecology lab.This summer he will continue benthicsampling in Nipigon Bay, and hopes tofinish by 2004.

Jennifer Schreiber is completing dataanalysis and writing her thesis on“Viability and Invasiveness of Salmonellatyphimurium in an Aquatic Environment”under the advisement of Dr. RandallHicks. She presented her research atboth the Sigma Xi poster session and theLiMNology conference in 2002. While agraduate student at UMD, Jen has heldboth RA and TA positions. She taught inseveral courses - Human Anatomy,Cellular Biology, Biology of Women and

Molecular Biology – and received specialdepartmental recognition as a teachingassistant in the spring 2003 awardsceremony. This summer, Jen plans tospend some time camping and visitingwith family and friends. After graduationin December 2003, she’d like to workfor a biomedical industry or teach at acommunity college.

John Schwalbe is no stranger to UMDas he received his undergraduate degreein Biology here. John works with Dr.Tom Hrabik on changes in mercuryconcentrations of yellow perch, which

Founded in 1886, Sigma Xi, a non-profitscientific research society, has amembership of nearly 75,000 scientistsand engineers who were elected to theSociety because of their researchachievements or potential. There aremore than 500 Sigma Xi chapters atuniversities and colleges, governmentlaboratories, and industry researchcenters. The UMD Chapter officers thisyear are Arun Goyal, President; RonCaple, President-elect; Bob Cormier,Secretary; and Jean Regal, Treasurer.

The UMD Chapter of Sigma Xisponsored the Fourth Annual ScientificEquipment Show on Wednesday, April16, in the Kirby Student CenterBallroom. The Equipment Show wasintended to bring researchers, studentsand vendors in personal contact andshow the latest technology available forresearch. That goal was met, as about300-400 people attended to meet withrepresentatives from such vendors aspbasio, Fisher Scientific, Millipore,Qiagen, BioRad, and Shimadzu, just toname a few.

UMD Chapter of Sigma Xiby Stacy Johnson

are lake-specific responses to a decreasein atmospheric deposition. This summerhe will continue his research at TroutLake in Wisconsin in order to startworking on his thesis next year. Hehopes to get his Ph.D. in aquatictoxicology and to someday work for theEPA or DNR.

Other graduate students in the BiologyDepartment this past year included KariDresback, Wendy Heib, Jen Milan, ChrisMrozinski, Lucy Palmer and MarkPaulson.

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Biology AwardsCeremony

by Ruth Hemming

The 2003 Department of BiologyAwards and Scholarships Ceremony washeld at the Griggs Center on Friday, April25. Dr. David Schimpf, Awards andScholarship Committee Chair, welcomedthose attending and presented a briefbackground of each award andscholarship, including the requiredselection criteria. Faculty memberspresented the awards and scholarships,along with a framed certificate and a giftor check. The recipients are listed below:

Outstanding Graduate TeachingAssistant - Hazel E. RichmondGraduate Teaching Assistant, SpecialRecognition - Matthew R. Olson andJennifer A. SchreiberT.O. Odlaug Scholarship - Eric G.Bluemn and Karen S. Myren

Outstanding GraduateTeaching AssistantAward

Hazel Richmond, pictured here withDr. Steve Hedman, Associate Dean ofthe Graduate School, was chosen as the2002-2003 outstanding graduateteaching assistant in Biology. The awardis presented by the College of Scienceand Engineering and honors the graduatestudent selected by each department.

Biology student award winners for 2003 are pictured (L to R) Front Row: Katherine Baratto, Eric Bluemn, ChristopherWalker, Matthew Olson, Ashley Gubbels. Back Row: Corrie Evenson, Karen Myren, Eileen Harris, Jen Schreiber, ScottSveiven, Sara Rubbelke, Kar Kuffenkam, Hazel Richmond. Not Pictured: Holly Blais.

Ed and Alma Turcotte Scholarship -Katherine M. Baratto and Christopher M.WalkerJohn McCabe Scholarship - Corrie J.Evenson, Ashley L. Gubbels, Kerry L.Kuffenkam and Sara A. RubbelkeSikander M. Karim Pre-VeterinaryMedicine Award - Holly A. BlaisOutstanding First Year Student - Scott J.SveivenT.O. Odlaug Award for OutstandingSenior - Eileen R. Harris

Dr. James Riehl, Dean of the College ofScience and Engineering, offered hiscongratulations and acknowledged theacademic endeavors andaccomplishments of these outstandingstudents. Raj Karim, Awards andScholarship Committee member, gaveclosing remarks. A reception followedthe awards ceremony, which was wellattended by faulty, staff, students andfamily members of the award winners.Congratulations to all!

Hazel Richmond is congratulated by Associate ViceChancellor Steve Hedman.

Hazel Richmond poses with Matt Olson and JenSchreiber, also nominated for the outstanding GTAaward. More information about each of these studentscan be found in the “Graduate Student Profiles.”

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Each year the Biology department givesout several awards to students. Theseinclude various scholarships and honorsto recognize a few of the excellentbiology and cell biology students.

The Outstanding Freshman Biology Studentaward went to Scott J. Sveiven. Thisaward is given to a student who hasdone incredibly well in General Biology Iand II. The student is chosen on thebasis of point totals in class andrecommendations by teaching assistants.

This year’s T.O. Odlaug Award for theoutstanding biology student was given toEileen Harris. Eileen is from Waseca,Minnesota and after graduation will beattending graduate school forenvironmental science. For this award,faculty members nominate seniorbiology students who have shownacademic scholarship, leadership andservice to the department. This awardwas created in honor of Dr. Theron O.Odlaug who was a long-time departmenthead.

The recipient of the Pre-VeterinaryMedicine Award was Holly A. Blais. Ajunior biology major, Holly hopes toattend the College of VeterinaryMedicine in St. Paul after graduation,eventually opening up her own practicein her hometown of International Falls.The Karim Pre-Vet Med award is inmemory of Dr. Raj Karim’s father and isawarded to a sophomore or a juniorwho has experience working with

animals, as well as demonstratedmaturity and reliability. Studentsapplying for this award must have atleast a 3.4 GPA and submit a one-pageessay on their qualifications.

The T.O. Odlaug Scholarship is awardedto two applicants each year. Thisscholarship, given to a current biologyor cell biology student, is based on bothneed and merit. A GPA of 3.0 isminimal. The two recipients for this yearwere Eric Bluemn and Karen Myren.Eric is a pre-med student fromChippewa Falls, Wisconsin. He iscurrently a sophomore who plans onattending medical school and specializingin surgery. Karen is also a sophomore,double majoring in cell biology andinternational studies. She is fromMiltona, Minnesota and also plans on acareer in medicine.

Katherine Baratto and ChristopherWalker were this year’s recipients ofthe Ed and Alma Turcotte Scholarships.Chris is from Appleton, Minnesota andis a senior biology major. He will beattending the University of MinnesotaMedical School next year focusing oneither oncology or family practice. Katyhas just completed her junior year hereat UMD and is planning on applying tothe Veterinary School at the Universityof Minnesota. She would like topractice small animal and exotic/wildlifemedicine. Her hometown isDeerwood, Minnesota. The Ed and

Alma Turcotte scholarships are awardedto biology or cell biology undergraduatestudents who have at least a 3.0 GPA, areeligible for Minnesota resident tuition anddemonstrate financial need.

The four deserving winners of this year’sJohn McCabe Scholarships are CorrieEvenson, Ashley Gubbels, KerryKuffenkam and Sara Rubbelke. Thepurpose of the John McCabe scholarshipis to assist high achieving biology or cellbiology students who also demonstratefinancial need. Students must have anoverall GPA of 3.0 or higher and befulltime undergraduates. Corrie is fromOtter Creek, Wisconsin and will be asenior next fall. She plans on being aChristian missionary in either publichealth or the natural sciences. Ashley is ajunior biology major from Glenwood,Minnesota, hoping to attend the UMDSchool of Medicine after graduation.Kerry would like to become a familypractitioner in her hometown ofInternational Falls. Another dream is toassist in medical care in Third Worldcountries. She has completed her junioryear as a biology major. Sara is fromMaplewood, Minnesota. She is a junioralso, planning to graduate next spring andthen attending medical school in the fallof 2004.

Darland All-AmericanScholarship Recipients

Two Biology students, Sarah Pollema andStefanie Reinhart-Medin, were selectedas recipients of the Raymond W.Darland All-American Scholarship for the2002-2003 academic year. Thescholarship program was established byRegent Emeritus Richard L. Griggs inhonor of Provost Emeritus Raymond W.Darland. Scholarships, which cover theestimated cost of tuition for theacademic year, are granted on the basisof academic achievement and leadershipcontributions to UMD.

Alumni ScholarshipAvailable

Alumni, check out the web linkbelow. It describes a scholarship

(non-resident tuition waiver)available to non-resident, non-

reciprocity first-year students whohave a parent or grandparent that

graduated from UMD. Recipients ofthe scholarship pay current resident

Minnesota tuition and thescholarship is renewable if therecipient is in good academicstanding and making progress

toward a degree.

http://www.d.umn.edu/admissions/meritschol.html

2002-2003 Award Winners

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Class of 2002The 102nd UndergraduateCommencement for the University ofMinnesota Duluth was held on May 18,2002, at the Duluth Entertainment andConvention Center. The commencementaddress was given by Sheila Wellstone,wife and working partner of the late U.S.Senator Paul Wellstone. ChancellorMartin also presented her with theChancellor’s Distinguished ServiceAward for her leadership as an advocateagainst family violence. The followingstudents were presented withundergraduate degrees in Biology:

B.S. BiologyStephanie J. AlbertsonClayton I. AllenJeffrey T. AndersonDena L. BauerEmily A. BeekmannJeremy J. BloomquistNathan G. BourassaAnnie M. Bracey

Michael C. BraunJoseph J. BrinkmanAnn M. BrownLeith I. BrownTimothy A. BuckBenjamin J. BungartzKatherine A. Carlson, summa cum laudeMichael D. CaryMelissa C. CookPaul A. CuttsNicole A. DallumDevon R. Dannen, cum laudeBarry C. FuchsKelly M. GallKenneth E. GardRobert A. GillisGenevieve A. GornyErin M. GrubbsAngela K. HalgrenMatthew J. HansonLee S. HenryAdam E. HessAaron J. HokansonSarah L. Huth, summa cum laudeDawn L. IversonChristine A. JerrickAngela L. JohansenStefanie A. JohnsonKristin L. KielsaMegan M. KingsleyLaura I. Kuiper

Melissa M. Kuntz, magna cum laudeAndrew H. LarsonCory J. LarsonCynthia C. LeecyMichelle M. LeFaiveDavid R. MakiJeremy R. MarincelVenu NayarElizabeth A. O’Brien, magna cum laudeSteven M. Olsen, magna cum laudeJoseph A. OlsonCarrie A. QuastKevin L. RaaschMelissa A. ReibelWilliam P. RocheCristen A. RotherElizabeth J. RutherChad J. St. GermainSarah M. SchaakTammy J. SchillingErin M. Schreiber, cum laudeJohn P. SchwalbeChad D. SmithBridget K. SoderbergKatherine A. Stephenson, summa cum laudeShaun P. StruntzJilanne L. TessmerJohn R. ThullAnn F. Torborg, cum laudeSara A. VipondJoshua S. Ward

Allison L. WiedemannJanelle J. WiirreLucas G. WittwerCharles K. Zawaira

B.S. Cell BiologyDeAnna M. BaerSeth M. FeliceMegan E. Meade Gladen, cum laudeKevin D. JohnsonRuth A. MarkwardtKara L. RaymondDavid W. SchumannChristopher P. Zaun

B.A. BiologyMatthew S. BaumgardnerJill N. BurgstahlerHeather S. Hadley, cum laudeTimothy P. McDonaldJamie A. Schreck

B.A.S. Teaching Life ScienceAlan C. DeweyChristen M. JechorekAnnie M. LundCaroline L. OlsonEdith A. Schilling, magna cum laudeMichael J. SchlangenMark J. Sherman, magna cum laudeLisa M. StalkerShelly A. Vanyo

Undergraduate Commencements[Since the previous newsletter was issued in the winter of 2002, there have been two spring commencements. Starting with the nextissue, the Life Scientist will cover events in a single academic year.]

Student writers Eileen Harris and Lukas Sheild.

Congratulations...

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Class of 2003The Duluth Entertainment andConvention center was the site of the103rd Undergraduate Commencementof the University of Minnesota Duluthon May 17, 2003. The commencementaddress was delivered by David Zentner,a 1959 graduate of UMD, nationallyrecognized citizen conservation activistand athletics booster. Mr. Zentner waspresented with an honorary doctorateby Chancellor Kathryn Martin. Thefollowing students were recipients ofundergraduate bachelor’s degrees:

B.S. BiologyNathan D. AnhornMelissa E. BergJoanna L. BlakeAmanda D. BrotzelLeith I. BrownLesley M. CaldwellAnna A. ChristianNicole A. DallumSarah L. DurlandThomas M. DvorakMisty D. Eliason, magna cum laudeChristopher P. EricksonJeremy M. Erickson, magna cum laudeKatrina E. EricksonKari A. EuteneuerBrooke L. FederPaul A. FischerMelissa N. GirtzKatrina A. HallgrenJennifer B. HansenEileen R. HarrisRuth A. HenriksenClara B. HillRachelle M. Hoeft

Breanna L. Hoff, magna cum laudeTara M. Hoff, summa cum laudeAndrew E. JohnsonAnthony M. KingErica K. Kuchera, summa cum laudeNicholas R. LamonCelestial-Dawn LindquistJoelle G. LuebchowKatherine J. LuttermanMichele D. MannerJane E. Mathiason, cum laudeMichael B. MiskovichMelissa D. MuellerStephanie J. NelsonCory H. NetlandJohn D. NotmanDerek D. NybergNicole J. PalmDaniel J. PeschlMelissa L. PeschmanSara L. Peterson, cum laudeSarah L. Pollema, magna cum laudeDustin J. PrivetteMark A. RasmussonStefanie C. Reinhart-MedinWilliam P. RocheJohn RodgersMelissa J. RoeringJesse J. RolesLenae M. SchaefbauerKimberly A. ScharenbroichJohn B. SchlettyMichael R. SedgwickJeffrey F. Sellman, cum laudeStephen A. SkogeNathan R. SlattengrenNathan J. Smischney, summa cum laudeAndrea M. SorensonMarty M. SpanishStephanie L. SwansonSteven J. Swenson

Jason J. ThompsonChristopher M. Walker, summa cum laudeLuke O. WallerJody L. WeltyKarola A. WhitfieldMaykue YangMason M. Disrude

B.S. Cell BiologyKatharine M. Brauch, cum laudeJessica M. FerrinDana L. FlemingShilpa GuptaJustin C. HaworthChristopher A. JohnsonAhnna M. Stone JuntunenNathan D. LaposkyDain T. MeyerRoss W. PerkoJared R. Reese, magna cum laudeAlyssa M. SahlmenIan W. SchwartzJustin A. Spanier, cum laudeAngela M. Stainbrook, magna cum laudeTiffany J. Turnwall

B.A. BiologyKathryn J. ButtonMichael J. FudalaLaura J. RickerNicholas J. SwensonAnthony M. WagnerMelissa L. Warhol

B.A.S. Teaching Life ScienceJennifer S. Rukavina BoelterJeannette M. GuelkerJaime S. Hunter, cum laudeJason S. McNabbLacey J. ScottumBenjamin G. Straka

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Biology Clubby Allison Bohlman

The Biology Club had another eventfulyear, beginning with an introductorymeeting in September and starting outwith bang at the annual camping trip toGooseberry Falls during October. Ourintramural softball team won many of itsgames this fall and had a great turnout ofstudents! The Biology Club has enjoyedmany activities throughout this past yearincluding bowling weekly, curling, hiking,sledding, a bonfire, a trip to theOmnimax, and dinners at officer’shomes. In early April, a group of 12members journeyed to the St. PaulScience Museum for an excitingweekend.

The Club has actively raised money thispast year with the group “Human-i-tees”, which donates part of its profit torainforest conservation. The club hadtwo spring intramural all-women teamsof soccer and field hockey. They playedthe men’s leagues due to lack of otherwomen’s teams to compete against.Both teams have done their best to winand have had a lot of fun against theirmale opponents.

The Biology Club continued to serve theneeds of the Biology Department atevery seminar by preparingrefreshments. We helped clean andmodernize the display cases in the

PreDent Clubby Terese KropskiThe University of Minnesota Duluth’spredental club is an organization forstudents to come together and learnabout various careers related todentistry. This past year the chapter hasbuilt many new bridges that may lead tosuccess for future members.Many new members contributed to aproductive year. Attendance for the clubreached nearly 30 members. Eventhough this was the largest turnout in theclub’s history, it was also one of theclosest-knit groups ever. Pre-DentalHygiene students were welcomed intoour club this year and these studentscontributed to the group by helping us allsee dentistry from another aspect.This past year the club participated innumerous activities. Early in the fall, GaleShea, the director of admissions fromthe dental school on the twin citiescampus, traveled to UMD to answerstudents’ questions. We also had a fewUMD alumni, who are now first yeardental school students, come andanswer members questions both fall andspring semesters. Our chapter

Student Clubs

department and assisted at the bigalumni reunion this last fall. It was a greatyear for everyone and the future officersare beginning to plan for a busy schedulenext year. Officers during the past yearwere: President - Eileen Harris, VicePresident - Rebekah Bolstad, Treasurer -Erik Peterson, Director of Membershipand Activities - Madeleine Robins,Assistant Directors of Membership andActivities - Amybeth Froehlich and KrishJayathilaka, and UndergraduateRepresentative - Denise Gregoire.

Biology Club Officers (Row 1, L to R): Madeleine Robins,Eileen Harris, (Row 2, L to R): Amybeth Froehlich, BeckyBolstad and Allison Bohlman. Not pictured: Erik Peterson,Krish Jayathilaka and Denise Gregoire.

participated in a co-ed intramuralbroomball team and had the mostsuccessful season in the club’s history,ending up playing in the championshipgame. Many members also traveled tothe University of Minnesota School ofDentistry’s Career Day event. Duringthis bi-annual event, students from allover the state, interested in dentistry ordental hygiene, are able to meet faculty,ask questions, and get a tour of thefacilities. Our club participated in makinga web site for the club, which is nowlinked to the UMD biology home page.Club officers for the past year wereTerese Kropski – President, Jesse Roles –Vice President, Kim Scharenbroich –Secretary and David Farrar – Treasurer.The best thing about this club is gettingto know other undergraduate studentsthat share a passion for the field ofdentistry. You meet many new friendsthat help guide you to getting yourdreams accomplished. If you areinterested in becoming a member of theclub, please contact one of the clubofficers or our club advisor LindaHolmstrand, LSci 313, or emaillholmstr@d.umn.edu

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PreMed Clubby Jared Reese

The PreMed Club has just wrapped upanother exciting, and successful year.Our mission continues to be to providea place for pre-medicine students tohave fun, meet other pre-med students,and be educated about careers in healthcare, as well as the medical schooladmissions process.

We started out the year with a socialgathering of pre-med students, whichincluded fun, friends, and plenty of pizza!Over the course of the year we tried tomeet once every two weeks. Amongthe highlights of the year were: a meetingwith first year medical students fromUMD Medical School complete withcadaver lab tour, a visit from Dr. Lillian

PreOptometry Clubby Deanna Wheeler

The PreOptometry Club met only onceeach semester to discuss optometryschools, the application process, coursesto take, and possible job or volunteeropportunities. This is a fairly new clubbut membership has grown to about10members. The officers for the 2002-2003 school year were:President-Deanna Wheeler, VicePresident - Melissa Roering, Secretary -Jeremy Trevis and Treasurer-KatrinaErickson. The club faulty advisor isDr. Merry Jo Oursler.

PreVetMed Clubby Melissa Girtz

The PreVeterinary Medicine Clubprovides an opportunity for people withsimilar interests in animal medicine tomeet each other and discuss relatedissues. It also exposes students to theveterinary field by participation in variousactivities. In the fall we kicked off thenew school year with a picnic at thehome of Raj Karim, the club advisor.Here, all of the new members andincoming freshman were able to meetand greet one another and getacquainted with the club officers. InOctober, the club participated in apumpkin-carving event. During thisoccasion, the members were able toenjoy pizza and pop while designing theirown pumpkins for Halloween. Onceeach semester, a few of the club’sofficers provided tutorial sessions on theadmissions process to veterinary medicalschool. At these sessions the officersexplained the possible obstacles thatmight be encountered during the

Repesh (also the club’s advisor) whogave great information about what ittakes to get into medical school,Christmas caroling at Aftenro and theBenedictine Health Center, andparticipation in the Relay for Life.Additionally, the club hosted speakerswho helped students make informeddecisions about future careers. Thesespeakers represented many differentcareers in health care includingchiropractic medicine, dermatology,emergency medicine, podiatry, radiology,and surgery. It was inspiring and upliftingto hear real health care professionalsshare what they love most about theirprofessions.

The Pre-med club has been, and willcontinue to be a place to have fun, learn,and help prepare students who will bethe doctors of tomorrow.

application process. A group toured theUniversity of Minnesota VeterinarySchool, an annual event, and received aprivate tour of the facilities. This helpedUMD students to become familiar withthe school and some of its currentstudents and faculty. The club alsoparticipated in a fundraiser by sellingcandy in the Biology Department Office.

Anyone wishing to join the club for the2003-2004 school year should contactthe newly elected president, KirstinMcKeown at mcke0217@d.umn.edu orRaj Karim, the club faculty advisor.

PreVet Club Officers (L to R): President-elect KirstinMcKeown and President Melissa Girtz. Not Pictured:Erica Kuchera and Ann Liebl.

Each year, about 100 Biology graduatesleave UMD and enter a new phase oftheir lives. The following sketches focuson four members of the class of 2003and the paths that they will follow.

Senior Spotlight

Kari Euteneuer is a Biology major witha Psychology minor. In Duluth she spenttime working at an REM group home,studying and playing with Mason, thenew puppy at her house. She plans onattending St. Cloud State in a nursingprogram that starts next spring. As fornursing, Kari is not sure of a specialty,but she plans to look at different areas tosee what fits her the best. In themeantime, she will be working

somewhere near her hometown ofAlbany, Minnesota, where she will beable to see her parents and sisters moreoften.

After four years at UMD, Eileen Harrisgraduated with a Biology major and aChemistry minor. She will be continuingher education next year at MinnesotaState University, Mankato, where she

(Continued on page 20)

by Eileen Harris

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The Undergraduate ResearchOpportunities Program (UROP) is auniversity-wide program designed to giveundergraduate students and facultymembers the opportunity to worktogether on research, scholarly orcreative activities. Students must write acompetitive grant, and if successful,receive a stipend of $1400 plus $300 forsupplies and expenses. UROP providesstudents with out-of-class practicalexperience in the development andimplementation of a project worthy ofpublication and presentation atprofessional meetings.

A number of Biology students presentedtheir research at the annual NationalConference of Undergraduate Research(NCUR) held in March in Salt Lake City,Utah. During the past year, 20 Biologystudents and 10 Biology faculty membersparticipated in the UROP program. A listof recipients and their sponsors follow:

Fall 2002

Katharine Brauch“Proteomic Analysis of MembraneFractions in Various Tissues ofHibernating Ground Squirrels”Sponsor: Matthew T. Andrews

Michael Eskelson“Wing Variation as a Process ofSpeciation in Eurosta solidaginis”Sponsor: Timothy P. Craig

Matt Kading“Identifying the Sources of Escherichiacoli Bacteria using Patterns of AntibioticResistance”Sponsor: Randall E. Hicks

Nichole Klatt“The Inhibitory Effects of Tea PlantSegments (Camellia sinesis) Alone, and inCombination with Antibiotics, AgainstSix Different Strains of Bacteria.Sponsor: M. Reza-ul (Raj) Karim

Doug Schaff“Optic Nerve Regeneration in Fish”Sponsor: Allen Mensinger

Kimberly L. Schoonover“The Effect of 2-ME on the AKT and p38Pathways in Osteoclasts”Sponsor: Merry Jo Oursler

Jessica Strange“The Effects of Gall Size on ParasitoidWasp Ovipositor Length”Sponsor: Timothy P. Craig

plans to pursue a master’s degree inenvironmental sciences. Eileen wouldlike to eventually go into environmentaleducation. Top activities for her thispast year included the Biology Club, ofwhich she was president for the 2002-2003 school year and involvement inLutheran Campus Ministry. Eileen isoriginally from Waseca, Minnesota.Back home, she has her mother andstepfather, a brother and a sister with abrand new baby girl.

Derek Nyberg, from Cromwell,Minnesota, also earned a Biology degreewith a Chemistry minor. He has beenactive in the Biology Club andIntervarsity Christian Fellowship duringhis time here at UMD. Derek is a well-rounded young man who likes a varietyof activities including running, hangingout, watching bands and eating out. Hisfamily is a large part of his life as well.He has one younger and one olderbrother at home with his parents. Aftergraduation Derek has no definite plansbut would like to travel a bit, another

one of his pastimes. With his interest inanatomy and physiology along with hisconcern for people, he would like to goto graduate school in a healthcareprofession.

Attending the Indiana University Schoolof Optometry this fall will be the nextstep for Katrina Erickson. Shegraduated with a major in Biology and aminor in Psychology. A workoutenthusiast, Katrina likes to swim, doaerobics and a variety of other sports.Her hometown is Cohasset, Minnesotawhere her parents and younger brotherlive. Katrina has worked at Target allfour years of college and for the last twoyears has been a grader for physicsclasses. She chose optometry becauseshe’s always had an interest in helpingpeople and optometry seemedinteresting. After 3 years of classes inIndiana she will start a practicumrotation that will take her around thecountry. She hopes to eventually starther own practice.

UROP Awards

Missy Peschma poses with her poster “Mechanisms ofoutbreeding depression studied through among-population of hybridization in Camanula americana, theAmerican bellflower” at the eighth annual Research/Artistic Fair held at UMD in May. Missy’s faculutymentor is Dr. Julie Etterson.

(Senior Spotlight continued from page 19)

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Biology StudentsPresent Research atNCUR Meeting

A total of twelve undergraduatespresented research at the NationalConference on Undergraduate Research(NCUR), March 12-16 in Salt Lake City,Utah. Four of the students - RachelBeukema, McKenzi Burmeister, NicholeKlatt, and Jody Welty, are BiologyStudents from the lab of Dr. Raj Karim.

Rachel Beukema conducted anexperiment entitled “The optimalconcentrations of different sera on cellgrowth for BGMK and Vero Cell lines.”The two cell lines were tested usingchicken, horse, lamb, cool calf, and fetalbovine serum. The purpose of thesetrials was to observe which cell linegrows best with a given serum at aparticular concentration.

McKenzi Burmeister’s project“Comparative Long Term Analysis forThree Established Cell Lines: Vero, L929,and BHK-21.” was the continuation of aUROP project. She tested the viability

rates and monolayer formation timesafter cells had been frozen for allottedperiods of time ranging from 0 days tosix months after freezing.

Nichole Klatt tested the antiviral,antimicrobial and antifungal effects ofdifferent tea plant (Camellia sinensis)segments and combinations. She testedthe antiviral activity against AfricanGreeen monkey Kidney (Vero) cellsinfected with Herpes Simplex viruses,and the antimicrobial activity againstmany different bacteria, includingStreptococcus, Staphlococcus, Escherichia,Klebsiella, Bacillus, and Salmonella species.She used Candida species to test theantifungal activity.

Jody Welty’s worked with plant derivedextracts of the plant Camellia sinensis.She used these extracts (drugs) onmelanoma cell cultures, Herpes SimplexVirus Types one and two, bacteria, andyeast.

Tiffany Turnwall“Survey of Differentially ExpressedProteins from Active and HibernatingThirteen-Lined Ground Squirrels”Sponsor: Matthew Andrews

Christopher Walker“Differential Expression of STAR Proteinin a Hibernating Mammal”Sponsor: Matthew Andrews

Jody Welty“In Vitro Effect of Tea Plant (Comelliasinesis) Materials Against Melanoma”Sponsor: M. Reza-ul (Raj) Karim

Ray Wickham“Biosorbtion of Lemna minor andOligodynamic Action on MicroorganismsUsing Cadium and Lead”Sponsor: M. Reza-ul (Raj) Karim

Spring 2003

Charlene Balcer“Genetic Factors Controlling MammalianHibernation”Sponsor: Matthew Andrews

Margot A. Bergstrom“Illustration of Plant Diversity”Sponsor: John Pastor

Rachel J. Beukema“Comparative Effects of Green TeaExtracts Alone and in Combination withHypervalent Iodine and BenzoboroxoleDerivation Compounds”Sponsor: M. Reza-ul (Raj) Karim

Amanda Dawn Brotzel“Mariculture of the Toadfish, Opsanustau”Sponsor: Allen Mensinger

Daniel Delf“Understanding the Breeding System ofSolidago altissima”Sponsor: Julie Etterson

Michael Eskelson“Comparison of Mating BehaviorBetween Prairie and Forest Populationsof Gallmakers and Their HostplantPreferences”Sponsor: Timothy Craig

Sarah J. Foltz“Genetic Divergence Studied throughHybridization”Sponsor: Julie Etterson

Julie Glasscock“Study on Juvenile HormoneBiosynthesis Regulation”Sponsor: Anna Rachinsky

Angela Merritt“Seasonal Patterns of Distribution andAbundance of Bythotrephes longimanusin Island Lake, Minnesota”Sponsor: Lyle Shannon

Jessica E. Strange“An Analysis of Variance in Plant-Architecture and Insect Community inTall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima) inEaster MN through the GrowingSeason”Sponsor: Timothy Craig

Jeffrey Willging“Geographic Distribution of Solidagoaltissima Cytotypes Across the Prairie-Forest Border in Minnesota”Sponsor: Julie Etterson

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Alumni NewsKimberly Bigelow (B.S. ’99) wasaccepted into medical school at theUniversity of North Dakota at GrandForks and received the David JohnsonMemorial Scholarship for MedicalSchool.

Michael Haedt (B.S. ‘96) received hisDoctor of Optometry from theUniversity of Missouri, St. Louis, in 2001and completed his residency in primarycare optometry at the West PointMilitary Academy in the summer of2002. He is serving as an optometristwith the U.S. Army. Mike and his wifeDianna have four children – Makayla,Jackson, Gabriel and Naomi.

David Haugen (B.S. ’96) a navalreservist, served during the war in Iraq asa dentist aboard the USS AbrahamLincoln. David is a graduate of DuluthDenfeld and lives in West Duluth withhis wife, Holly, and sons Zachery, 7, andSebastian, 2.

Mary Karst (M.S. 2001) was recentlyappointed division chair of the Math andLife Sciences Department at BrazosportCommunity College in Lake Jackson,

Texas, where she has been teachingbiology classes. Mary was the UMDBiology Department’s OutstandingGraduate Teaching Assistant for the1999-2000 academic year.

Megan Kingsley (B.S. ’02) has beenaccepted into the Acupuncture andOriental Medicine master’s program(MSAOM) at Bastyr University in Seattleand will begin classes in September,2003. While in Washington, Megan hasworked as a nanny, volunteered at a localhospital and enjoyed hiking andsightseeing. (Editor’s note: Megan wasthe student editor of the ’02 LifeScientist).

Jason May (B.A.S. ’99) is teaching 7th

grade Life Science and Health at AitkinHigh School. He enjoys involvement inthe science fair and also serves as thewrestling coach.

Christina Miller (M.S. 2002) is afulltime lab manager and adjunctinstructor at North HennepinCommunity College, where she servesmicrobiology, anatomy and physiology,and general biology labs as well as

In September of 2002, the College ofScience and Engineering established anAcademy of Distinguished Alumni andpresented five awards at a special dinnerand award ceremony. The Academy wasestablished to give public recognition todistinguished alumni and special friendsof CSE who have distinguishedthemselves in their professional lives.

The Biology Department’s inductee wasDr. Jerome Klun, an internationallyrecognized scholar who has conductedoutstanding research on the chemicalnature of host-plant insect resistance incorn. His accomplishments also includenumerous citations and awards forresearch in the areas of insect chemistryand behavior, 114 peer reviewedpublications and five patents. Dr. Klunhas spent his entire career with theUSDA and is currently a researchentomologist at the USDA facility inBeltsville, Maryland.

“Jerry” Klun is a native of Ely,Minnesota, a graduate of ElyJunior College and received aB.A. degree in Biology fromUMD in 1961. He went on toearn a Ph.D. in entomology atIowa State in 1965. During hisvisit to campus in September,Dr. Klun presented adepartmental seminar on thetopic “SS220: A new repellentcompound to fend off blood-feeding arthropods”. This is acompound similar to DEET andother insect repellents on the

market and is undergoing test trialsbefore its eventual use by militarypersonnel and the public. Prior to thepresentation, he reminisced about hisdays at UMD and showed several slidesfrom his college days…. a view of thescience building (now Chemistry) fromCollege Avenue, another of the campusfrom the men’s residence hall (nowVermilion hall) and a picture of himselfdissecting a shark in his dorm room! Heparticularly recalled Biology faculty whowere mentors and teachers at that time– Drs. Huai Chiang, Blanchard Krogstad,Ted Odlaug, Paul Monson and JohnCarlson.

Biology faculty, staff and students had avery enjoyable time visiting with Dr. Klunduring the reception in Griggs Center.We congratulate him as a very worthyrecipient of this honor and invite himback to visit us at any time in the future.

First Annual Academy of Science andEngineering Award

Matt Andrews, Biology Departmetn Head (left) andDr. James Riehl, Dean of CSE (right), congratulateDr. Jerome Klun on his award.

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A Facefrom thePast

Who is the “mystery Biology graduatestudent” pictured here? If you canidentify her, send the name to LindaHolmstrand, Editor, Life Scientist, 211LSci, 1ll0 Kirby Drive, Duluth, MN55812-2496 OR emaillholmstr@d.umn.edu. Your name will beput in the hat for a drawing to be heldSeptember 30, 2003. The winner willreceive a book “UMD Comes of Age,The First One Hundred Years” by KenMoran and Neil Storch. It is a pictorialoverview and condensed history of theDuluth Normal School, Duluth Stateteachers College and the University ofMinnesota Duluth. A Great Keepsake!

By the way, the “Face From the Past”featured in ourlast newsletterwas Dr. IsabelAhlgren, a Biologyfaculty member inthe late 60’s. Shewas correctlyidentified by anumber ofpeople, but thewinner, drawnfrom the hat, was Bonnie Dinehart ofCarlton. She received a copy of “UMDComes of Age”. Bonnie was formerlythe supervisor of our UMD greenhouse.Congratulations, Bonnie!

The University is currently operating inan environment of reduced budgets andpainful cutbacks. Despite theseconditions, we strive to maintain ourexcellence in teaching and research aswell as service to students andrecognition of their achievements.Through the donations of alumni andfriends, we can continue to offer studentawards and scholarships, sponsorundergraduate research, publish and mailour annual newsletter and support othervalued programs. The BiologyDepartment would like to acknowledgethe following individuals for donationsreceived during the period January, 2002through May, 2003. Thank you for yoursupport and your financial gifts. They aregreatly appreciated by the students,faculty and staff.

Dr. Thomas E. Becker and Dr. Caroline

Boehnke-Becker

Dr. Edward T. Bersu

Jon C. and Suzanne C. Birch

Dr. Donald W. Davidson

Lauren J. Evans

Dr. Jon A. Farchmin

Mrs. Dorace J. Goodwin

Dr. and Mrs. Omar F.S. Guimares

Helen B. and Paul T. Hanten

Dr. Randall E. Hicks

Reese W. and Heather J. Holbrook

Ms. Glenna Magsam Hughes

Gary R. and Cynthia A. Johnson

Julie E. and Daniel R. Jordan

Dr. M. Raj Karim

Cheryl A. Kelley

B.J. Smith Kohlstedt and John Kohlstedt

Marcia M. Knaak

Dr. Timothy R. Langguth

Thomas M. Matthiae

Sally A. and Joseph M. Mayasich

Dr. Allen Mensinger

Dr. Rodney C. Mowbray

Judy K. Nelson

Dr. Gerald J. Niemi and Bonnie J. Niemi

Dr. Theron E. Odlaug

Rolf O. and Carolyn C. Peterson

Donald G. and Nancy G. Rakowsky

Mark S. Schaberg

Rodger L. and Sandra C. Schaefbauer

Dr. Daniel R. Sherry

J. Craig Stepan

Dr. Archie J. Vomachka

Women’s Friday Club

teaching a variety of courses. Christiehas been involved with incorporatingtechnology into the labs and revising labmanuals. Her husband Steve (M.S.Chemistry ’02) has completed the firstyear of his Ph.D. program at the U of Mtwin cities campus.

Suzanne Z. Nordin (B.S. ’90) andMichael W. Nordin (B.S. ’89) residein Antigo, WI, where Sue is a familypractice physician with a special interestin complementary medicine in ruralareas. Mike is employed by theWisconsin DNR. They have twochildren – Anna, 6, and Ryan 4.

Gloria “Jean” (Ness) Thompson(B.A. ’69) lives in Anchorage, Alaskawith her husband Dick Thompson (B.S.Education ’68, who also played UMDVarsity Hockey ’64 – ’68). They havethree adult children – Kristine, living inOslo, Norway – Erica in Tacoma,Washington and Ryan in St. Paul,Minnesota. Jean works part-time at theUniversity of Alaska, Anchorage, andenjoys the wilderness and outdooractivities of Alaska.

Gifts and Donations

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The Life Scientist 2003An annual newsletter for alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the UMD Biology Department

STUDENT Eileen HarrisCONTRIBUTORS Lukas Sheild

Allison BohlmanTerese KropskiJared ReeseDeanna WheelerMelissa Girtz

GRAPHIC Sandra PedersonDESIGN Tahiti Bay Promotions

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY1110 KIRBY DRIVEUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTHDULUTH, MN 55812-2496

WEBSITE http://www.d.umn.edu/biology/

Non-Profit OrgUS Postage

PAIDPermit No

721Duluth MN

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EDITOR Linda Holmstrand

STUDENT Eileen HarrisEDITOR

PHOTOS Brett Groehler,Campus PhotographerLinda Holmstrand

SPECIAL Ruth HemmingTHANKS Stacy Johnson

Betty Myshack

The University of Minnesota is an equalopportunity educator and employer.

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