Announcement Archive 2012
December 11, 2012
Congratulations to former Biology major Alison O’Neill (C’11), whose research article titled, “Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) as a therapeutic target in Ewing sarcoma: lack of consistent up-regulation or recurrent mutation and a review of clinical trial literature,” was recently accepted for publication in Sarcoma, an open-access journal dedicated to publishing papers covering all aspects of connective tissue oncology research. Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky, an associate professor at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, commended Alison and her team, saying the article “has important data that are not otherwise explicitly in the publishome.”
Congratulations to Alison and her team!
November 17, 2012
Congratualtions to senior Neurobiology major Wardah Athar, who was recently awarded the George J. Mitchell scholarship that will support her graduate study next year in either neuroscience or psychology at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. The scholarship is named for former Senator George J. Mitchell (D-Maine), who helped broker peace in Northern Ireland, and provides for a year of graduate study at a university in Ireland. Wardah dedicated her undergraduate research to studying neuronal communication, which included working in biology professor Maria Donoghue’s developmental neurobiology lab. She looks forward to continuing her scientific growth abroad.
Georgetown Student Wins Mitchell Scholarship to Study in Ireland
Well done Wardah!
November 1, 2012
Georgetown University recently announced that it has received a $20 million gift to launch the Georgetown Environment Initiative – a multi-campus effort to advance the interdisciplinary study of the environment in relation to society and stewardship of natural resources. The gift, from a family affiliated with the university that wishes to remain anonymous, will provide resources to create a formal initiative that will benefit from the university’s wide-ranging expertise in relevant fields in science, business, public policy, the humanities, health, law and international relations.
University’s Environment Initiative Receives $20 Million Gift
October 1, 2012
The new science center at Georgetown University, Regents Hall, completed construction over the summer of 2012 and opened its doors for the start of classes for the 2012-2013 academic year. The brand new, state-of-the-art building houses most of faculty for the biology, chemistry and physics departments along with labs, classrooms and open communal spaces for students in the sciences. Early into the Fall 2012 semester, the building is already receiving rave reviews from both students and faculty.
New Science Building Showcases Commitment to Research, Technology, Collaboration
The photos below were taken at the Regents Hall dedication ceremony, held on October 4, 2012. (Photo credits: Professor Philip Sze)
October 22, 2012
Congratulations to Biology of Global Health major Sarah C. Kramer, Class of 2014, who has recently been appointed as Georgetown University’s Clare Boothe Luce Scholar for the 2012-2013 year. The Clare Boothe Luce Program stands alone as the single most significant source of private support for women in science, engineering and mathematics. Clare Boothe Luce, the widow of Henry R. Luce, was a playwright, journalist, U.S. Ambassador to Italy, and the first woman elected to Congress from Connecticut. She appreciated, however, that many women face obstacles in their chosen professions. In her magnificent bequest establishing this program, she sought to encourage women to enter, study, graduate, and teach in the sciences (including mathematics) and engineering.
Well done Sarah!
May 22, 2012
Congratulations to Associate Professor Maria Donoghue, who was recently awarded the Edward B. Bunn Award for Faculty Excellence in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Georgetown University during the 2011-2012 academic year. Prof. Donoghue was one of over 55 members of the university community to receive various awards for their contributions this year.
Faculty, Staff Recognized at End of Year for Contributions
Well done Prof. Donoghue!
May 3, 2012
Congratulations go out to graduate student Ewa Krzyszczyk, who was recently awarded a $2,000 research grant from the Lerner-Gray Fund for Marine Research, part of the American Museum of Natural History. The fund “provides financial assistance to highly qualified persons starting careers in marine zoology” and will be applied towards research conducted between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013. Ewa was granted this award to support her proposed project, “Can a new non-invasive collection technique, blow sampling, improve our understanding of cetacean endocrinology?”
Well done Ewa!
April 23, 2012
On Saturday, April 21, 2012, the Department of Biology held its annual Luncheon and Awards Ceremony in the Copley Formal Lounge on the Main Campus. Awards were presented in five different categories, all reflecting exemplary work exhibited by current Biology students.
This year’s award recipients are:
William T. Taylor-Richard J. Weber Memorial Scholarship
Stefano Daniele
Jess Hebert
Meghan O’Hearn
Megan Oblaczynski
Zukowski-Kolleng Summer Research Scholarships
Jennifer Marvin
Joseph Wiedemer
Katherine Williams
Chapman Medal
Jess Hebert
RISE Excellence in Research Awards
Harrison Bookstein
Stefano Daniele
Miranda Moore
Yoo Jin Sohn
Georgetown Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (GUROP)
Ian Gaston
Christopher Griffey
Claire Lang
Alyssa Miller
Kerry Ryan
Awards were also presented earlier in the week at the Undergraduate Research Conference, showcasing undergraduate research from Biology and the School of Nursing & Health Sciences. This conference is sponsored by the SNHS.
Best Research Award: Jess Hebert (From a field of nearly 50 posters, Beatriz Galatas and Jess Hebert were selected as two out of only three students chosen for oral talks.)
Best Poster Presentations: Sophie Clark (3rd place) and Michael Wytock (2nd place)
Congratulations to all!
April 16, 2012
Congratulations go out to sophomore Biology major Frederick Ghandchi, who has been named as a 2012 recipient of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. This was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry M. Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate.
The purpose of the Foundation is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields. Frederick intends to pursue a PhD in Molecular Biology upon the completion of his undergraduate studies, and hopes to eventually conduct research in cancer genetics and teach at the graduate level.
Well done Frederick!
April 13, 2012
Aspen Institute Italia, in collaboration with the Associazione Francesco Cossiga ONLUS, has launched a scholarship in memory of former President of the Italian Republic and former Honorary Chairman of Aspen Institute Italia Francesco Cossiga. The scholarship supports exceptional students from other countries with Aspen Institute affiliates for a two-year course of study in Italy, covering tuition, housing, meals, tutors, and a monthly stipend. The recipient will work towards a Masters degree at any Milan university while based at the Collegio di Milano. The winner of the first award for the fall of 2012 is Koren H. Kwag, a senior at Georgetown University. She aims to pursue a degree in Molecular and Cellular Medical Biotechnology at the Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele.
Congratulations Koren!
March 28, 2012
A recent article published online in “The Cafb Blog” at the Capital Area Food Bank featured Biology Professor Heidi Elmendorf and her work with Biology of Global Health students on the issue of hunger in the Washington metro area and how students can inform the public of the problem and work together towards a solution.
Young Scientists Demonstrate Their Creative Talents
Well done Professor Elmendorf!
March 26, 2012
The University Initiative to Reduce Health Disparities Steering Committee at Georgetown University Medical Center recently announced that it has chosen three interdisciplinary pilot projects to fund, as it begins to advance its efforts to address the growing inequalities in our society. One of these projects is a teaching-focused proposal entitled, “Developing a Georgetown University Domestic and Global Health Disparities Course Emphasizing a Case Challenge,” and it includes Biology Professor Anne Rosenwald as one of its collaborators. It is the hope that this project, along with two others focused on Research and Community Engagement, will expand and enhance the committee’s cross-campus collaboration to address health disparities.
Congratulations Professor Rosenwald!
March 9, 2012
Congratulations are extended to first year graduate student Theodore (Trey) Picou, who was recently announced as one of three recipients of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Fellowship for the 2012-2013 academic year. Trey is working in Professor Heidi Elmendorf’s lab, researching the biomechanics of the Giardia parasite.
Well done Trey!
February 6, 2012
Congratulations to Professor Maria Donoghue, who was recently selected as one of three recipients of the 2012 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Prof. Donoghue was lauded by Dean Gillis for her devotion to educating her students and her ability to have her courses “inform (students) of the important role that science and scientific thinking plays in their lives.”
Prof. Donoghue received her award at this year’s annual Georgetown College Faculty Convocation, held on January 24th.
February 2, 2012
Congratulations to Professor Elena Casey, whose article on the response of early neural genes to FGF signaling or inhibition of BMP (co-authored with former Casey lab members Crystal D. Rogers and George S. Ferzli) was recently published in BMC Developmental Biology. Especially exciting for Prof. Casey is the fact that this is her first research paper published with an undergraduate (George S. Ferzli)!
Crystal D Rogers, George S Ferzli, Elena S Casey BMC Developmental Biology 2011, 11:74 (15 December 2011)
Congratulations Prof. Casey!
January 31, 2012
On Friday, January 27, 2012, the Department of Biology held its annual Graduate Student Awards Ceremony in the Car Barn on the Main Campus. PhD candidate Eric Patterson received the award for Oustanding Graduate Student, while Professor Gina Wimp received the award for Outstanding Graduate Mentor in the Department of Biology.
Congratulations to both!
January 20, 2012
A recent article by Monica Poelchau, Peter Armbruster, Christine Elsik and colleagues from the Ohio State University has been selected and evaluated by a Member of the Faculty of 1000, which places this work in the F1000 library of the top 2% of published articles in biology and medicine. The article, “A de novo transcriptome of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, to identify candidate transcripts for diapause preparation“, was published in BMC Genomics on December 20, 2011.
Congratulations to all involved!