Biology Blog

Please join us in congratulating the many Biology alums (or soon to be alums) who were accepted to graduate or professional programs this year

Graduate school 

Joseph Buchman ’13, Biology & Chemistry, Chemistry PhD Program at U of M

Amy Balto ’13, Chemistry, Masters in Food Science at Oregon State University

 
Medical School
Caitlin Batzlaff ’12, Biology, University of Minnesota
Ryan Bonner ’08, Sociology, University of Minnesota
Brandon Bukowski ’12, Biology, University of Wisconsin
Samantha Gerhardson ’09, Finance and Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth
Kayla Johnson ’13, Biology and Math, University of Minnesota Duluth

Physician Assistant
Kacie Bahr ’12, Biology, Marquette University or St. Kate’s University (deliberating)
Aybike Bakan ’11, Biology, Augsburg College
Courtney Gamrath ’12, Biology, Bethel College
Natasha Germain ’11, Biology, University of Southern California
Nikki Johnson ’13, Biopsychology, Augsburg College
Sarah Kidd ’13, Biology, New York Institute of Technology
Rebecca Reimann ’12, Biology, Augsburg College
Robert Tix ’07, Psychology, Marietta College

Dental School
Beau Hoium ’12, Biology, University of Minnesota

Veterinary School
Camille McAloney ’12, Biology, University of Minnesota

Masters of Public Health
Van Hong ’11, Biology, Touro University
Stef Sanders ’10, Biology, Boston University

Two Augsburg Biology students were named in national fellowship and scholarship competitions this spring. Students from around the country applied for these programs, and Augsburg is proud to be represented by such dedicated students.

Joe Buchman, Chemistry and Biology major, received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship that will provide $40,500 each year for the first three years of his doctoral study in Chemistry. The selection of these fellows is very competitive and is based on the viability of the student’s proposed research. Dr. Jennifer Bankers-Fulbright, Dr. Vivian Feng and Dr. Joan Kunz all wrote letters on Joe’s behalf and helped him shape his research proposal. Joe has been admitted to doctoral programs in chemistry at University of Colorado-Boulder, Iowa State University, University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana and the University of MN-Twin Cities. He has decided to attend the University of MN.

Allison Zank, Chemistry major and Biology research student, received the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a $7,500 award given to students from around the country who excel in STEM and intend to pursue a career in science, math, or engineering. Allison’s enthusiasm for research and its practical application was clear in her application, which was read and reviewed by Augsburg’s Goldwater committee, Dr. David Crowe, Dr. David Murr, Dr. Jody Sorensen, and Dr. David Hanson, as well as by Allison’s recommenders, Dr. Jennifer Bankers-Fulbright, Dr. Michael Wentzel, and Sandra Myers (U of M School of Dentistry). Allison is Augsburg’s first female Goldwater Scholar and one of only eight in the state to receive the award.

Please join us in congratulating these outstanding students!

Senior Biopsychology major Charlie Olson presented his research at the Minnesota State Capital as part of Private College Scholars at the Capitol, an annual event where students meet at the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda to discuss their research in various disciplines and its implications for future research. Charlie worked this past summer with Dr. David Crowe on his project entitled: Studying Brain Activity During Perception: A Comparison of Correlations Across States of Perception.

Dr. Kevin Potts, a faculty member in the Biology department, received a grant from the LSB Leakey Foundation to support his research investigating the nutritional content of foods eaten by chimpanzees in Kibale National Park in southwestern Uganda. The goal of this research is to clarify the extent to which the nutritional quality of resources influences the population density and distribution of wild chimpanzees. This information will be applied to conservation initiatives focused on maintaining viable populations of this endangered species in a critical part of its geographic range. Dr. Potts has studied the population of chimpanzees in Kibale since 2002, and this grant will allow him to continue this work, which involves direct observation of wild chimpanzee feeding behavior combined with lab analysis of plant nutrient content. Dr. Potts will travel to Uganda this summer to conduct fieldwork in Kibale National Park and, in conjunction with Ugandan collaborators, will initiate a long-term plant sampling protocol during that time.

This is the second time Dr. Potts has received funding from the Leakey Foundation, which supports research on primate behavior and ecology, as well as paleoanthropology and human evolution. If you are interested in learning more about his work, you can contact him at pottsk@augsburg.edu.

Welcome to the Augsburg College Biology Blog! Check back often for the latest in departmental news and interesting biology notes.