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Welcome to Penn State Altoona's Biology Page

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Biology program and biology club present Dr. Peter Hudson

http://www.altoona.psu.edu/now/news.asp?value=1957

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The Biology Degree Program and the Biology Club is pleased to sponsor the seminar:

Roles for RNA Chemistry in Biology

Philip C. Bevilacqua, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry
The Pennsylvania State University

Thursday, March 5
4:00 pm
Chapel

Dr. Philip Bevilacqua was born and raised in North Collins, New York, and attended John Carroll University for his B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Physics. He attended the University of Rochester, where he studied binding, conformational changes, and catalytic properties of ribozymes, earning his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry. Dr. Bevilacqua transitioned into a Biochemistry laboratory for his postdoctoral work, studying RNA-protein interactions under the 1989 Nobel laureate in Chemistry, Dr. Thomas Cech, and was funded by a prestigious Jane Coffin Childs Medical Research Fellowship. Dr. Bevilacqua's current research interests are focused on biophysical and biochemical studies of RNA folding, catalysis, and protein interactions.

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Program Flyer

Welcome Our New Penn State Altoona Biology Faculty

Phillip Day Instructor in Biology

Office: 264 Hawthorn Phone: (814) 949 5522

E-mail: PMD136@psu.edu Plant Physiology, Microbiology, Cellular and

Molecular Biology, Molecular Genetics

Phillip Day’s research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying hormonal signal transduction in germinating cereal grains such as rice, barley, and wheat. Specifically, Dr. Day studies the role of lipid- and protein-kinases in the gibberellin response of rice aleurone cells. He currently teaches courses in microbiology and genetics.

Adam Hartstone –Rose Assistant Professor of Biology

Office: 105 Hawthorn Phone: (814) 949- 5271
E-mail:AUH12@psu.edu Biological Anthropology and Anatomy

Adam Hartstone-Rose’s research is on comparative functional morphology. He studies the functional anatomy of live animals, cadavers, bones and fossils and works at zoos and museums all over the world and fossil excavation sites in southern Africa. He teaches courses in anatomy.

Matthew Weeg Assistant Professor of Biology

Office: 207 Hawthorn Phone: 814-949-5129

E-mail: msw18@psu.edu Neurobiology and Behavior

Matt Weeg is interested in communication, sensory systems, and how the nervous system directs animal behavior. He teaches courses in physiology and neurobiology.

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Would you like to learn more about Biology at Penn State Altoona?

Visit us at the Biology Department Picnic

Time: 5:30pm, Wednesday, September 10.

Location: The McNair Preserve (located behind Holtzinger Building, next to the creek)

Any students who are considering a degree in fields in the biological sciences (the health sciences, biology education, environmental studies, ecology, microbiology, biochemistry, agriculture, etc) are encouraged to attend.

Faculty will be available to talk with you about their research interests and about degree programs in the biological sciences. Printed informational material will be available.

You can take a self-guided tour of the biology facilities.

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Are You a Freshman Considering Professional School

in the Health Sciences?

You probably have some questions.

Health Science Majors’ Informational Session

Tuesday, September 18, 12:15 – 1:05pm

144 Hawthorn Building

· Ed Levri Coordinator, Altoona Biology Degree Program

· Mary Kananen Assistant Coordinator, Veterinary School Specialist

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Congratulations

Dr. Laura Palmer, Assistant Professor of Biology

2007-2008 recipient of the Grace D. Long Faculty Excellence Award at Penn State Altoona.
This award was created to recognize faculty members who, by their performance as teachers and their work in the

areas of advising, scholarship, research, and service, demonstrate excellence in their profession.

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The Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Program in Biology and Environmental Studies

are pleased to announce a seminar by:

Dr. Matthew Lamanna

entitled:

"The Origin of Modern Birds: New Evidence from the Cretaceous of China"

Wednesday, April 9 2008

7:00 PM

150 Hawthorn

Dr. Matthew C. (Matt) Lamanna is an Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Natural History. His research interests involve exploring the effects of geographic and environmental changes on non-avian and avian dinosaur evolution, distribution, and diversity. Within the past decade, he has directed or co-directed expeditions to central and southern Patagonia, Egypt, Australia, China, and the western United States that have resulted in the discovery of multiple new species of dinosaurs and other Mesozoic vertebrates. Among these are dozens of exquisitely-preserved specimens of Gansus yumenensis, a 110-million-year-old amphibious bird from China that is thought to be closely related to living birds. Dr. Lamanna and his colleagues published their analysis of Gansus in Science in 2006, accompanied by extensive media coverage and a documentary on the Science Channel.

Dr. Lamanna received his B.Sc. in Geoscience and Biology from Hobart College in 1997 and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999 and 2004, respectively. He currently serves as the principal scientific advisor to Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s $36 million Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibition project.

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The Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

in conjunction with the Biology Club

is pleased to announce that

Dr. Patricia Carrigan

Manager of Clinical Programs at Molecular Profiling Institute

will present a seminar entitled

"It Matters What You Measure"

Wednesday, March 26^th 2008

7:00 PM

150 Hawthorn

Dr. Patricia Carrigan was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended Miami University for her B.A. in Microbiology. She attended the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, where she focused her energy and efforts on understanding how chaperone proteins aided in the folding of steroid receptors and earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. Dr. Carrigan transitioned into a Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics laboratory where her work earned her an American Cancer Society Post-doctoral Fellowship Grant and the Leadership and Legacy Award. Dr. Carrigan’s research interests have focused on identifying early detection biomarkers for Pancreatic, Colon, and Breast Cancers in addition to understanding how environmental factors such as cigarette smoke play a role in the development of Pancreatic Cancer.

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Penn State Altoona Special Topics Course:

Biology 497C, Human Dimensions of Health Care

will be offered in Fall Semester.

Off Campus meetings: MW 12:00-4:00pm

On-Campus meeting: R 2:40-3:55pm

This is a 3-credit advanced level course in health care from the point of view of patients, their families, and health care providers. The course is offered jointly by the Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Penn State Altoona and Altoona Family Physicians Residency of Altoona Regional Health System.

The course is designed to provide field experience for students with plans for a future in the health professions. It is structured around rotations through five medical settings: Family Medicine, Community Medicine, Palliative Care, Hospice, and Assistance in Senior Living. Students will rotate through the medical settings, spending two afternoons per week in rotation.

SPACE IN THE COURSE IS LIMITED.

You must apply to be approved for enrollment. Criteria for selection will include: semester standing (juniors and seniors only), grade point average, demonstrated interest in the health science profession, and recommendation from the Division of Mathematics and Natural Science Pre-Professional Committee. Because some of the sites are not within walking distance of the Penn State Altoona Campus and the Campus of the Altoona Regional Health System, you must be able to provide personal transportation if necessary.

If you are wish to apply for Biology 497C, see Dr. Winsor

James A. Winsor

Professor of Biology and Instructor for Biology 497C

109 Science Building

Penn State Altoona

Altoona, PA 16601

814-949-5180

wmi@psu.edu

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Details for previous events can be found here

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