message from the chairman . . .

To paraphrase Heraclites, “The only thing constant in life is change”. That sentiment certainly applies to this past year in the Department of Biological Sciences. The first change you will notice is that I am writing to you as the recently appointed chair of the department, replacing Dr. Mary Bisson. I assumed the responsibilities of Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences in May 2005 and I happily report to you that in virtually all cases, the changes that have taken place over the past year are good!

The second change that you may notice is that this issue of BioNews comes to you at a different time of the year than in the past. Traditionally BioNews was issued late in the spring semester and summer. However with that timing, late breaking news regarding student and faculty accomplishments and personnel changes that occurred during the spring semester and summer were often not included. Hence, in hopes of providing you with a timelier and more complete update on Department events, we have decided to publish BioNews in the fall semester.

During the past year, the Department and the University in general have undergone substantial changes. Through the leadership of UB President John B. Simpson, UB has undertaken an intensive self-evaluation and review of its mission, aspirations and goals. At the core of the strategic planning process is UB 2020, a plan to capitalize on UB’s strengths in research by making strategic investments in 9 different areas of strength. Faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences are in the forefront of this planning process which has just moved into its implementation phase. The envisioned changes will have substantial benefits for both undergraduate and graduate education as well as facilitating the research mission of UB and the Department of Biological Sciences. We look forward to the positive outcomes of the continuing changes that are part of this process.

While the details of several other closer-to-home changes are given inside this issue of BioNews, I wanted to call your attention to a few of them:

In September 2005 we were excited to welcome a new faculty member, Dr. Brian Pierchala. Dr. Pierchala comes to us from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he was a research instructor. Dr. Pierchala’s research interests are in the area of neurobiology, with particular interests in understanding how growth factors guide the development and maintenance of the nervous system. I invite you to visit his departmental website for more details on his work.

Dr. Pierchala joins a growing group of neurobiologists in the Department of Biological Sciences. That group is experiencing additional growth this fall with the arrival of Dr. Denise Ferkey. Dr. Ferkey was a post-doctoral researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts and is interested in identifying proteins that regulate sensory signal transduction and in learning how sensory information is processed and encoded by the nervous system.

Our teaching and research emphasis in the molecular biology of gene expression will be strengthened this fall with the arrival of Dr. Michael Yu. Dr. Yu comes to us from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts (For those who are wondering, Drs. Ferkey & Yu knew each other in Boston, even playing on the same softball team!). Dr. Yu’s research interests involve elucidation of the biological functions of protein arginine methyltransferases. More specifically, his research focuses on how these proteins are involved in the regulation of gene expression.

In other personnel changes, Dr. Michael Hudecki officially retired in December 2005 after over 25 years of outstanding service to the Department’s instructional and research missions. He also served as the Departmental Executive Officer, assisting the chair, faculty, and students alike in navigating the intricacies of UB’s academic corridors. His insight, wit and counsel is missed by one and all. Mike’s retirement was celebrated at a retirement dinner attended by friends and colleagues. One highlight of the evening was the conferral of a Certificate of Accomplishment from the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a long time supporter of Mike’s research program. The conferral of this certificate, signed by MDA Chairman Jerry Lewis, was broadcast on local television. Although we miss his daily presence, Mike reports that retirement suits him well and the fishing rod that was given to him as a going away present is being put to good use. The position of Executive Officer is now held by Mr. Joseph Helfer. Joe has worked in various capacities at UB for nearly 20 years, most recently as Assistant to the Chair in Physics. His broad experience, good humor and attention to detail is helping to ensure that the Department of Biological Sciences continues to excel in its missions of research, teaching and service.

During the last year, faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences were again recognized for their excellence in teaching and dedication to service. At the University’s Academic Recognition Day, Professor Charles (Chuck) Fourtner was honored with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. This award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a faculty member in recognition of innovation and dedication to undergraduate education. Dr. Fourtner becomes the eleventh member of the Department of Biological Sciences to receive this award. No other department at UB has been so consistently recognized for excellence in its instructional mission. At the same ceremony, Dr. Phil Miles was honored for his 50 years of service to the Department of Biological Sciences and the University at Buffalo. Dr. Miles is a 1998 recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and continues to maintain a vigorous research and teaching program.

I am proud to say that the groundwork for several new ‘traditions’ have been laid this year. Building upon our previous program, the 4th Annual Distinguished Alumni Seminar was given by Professor Robert Full on December 9th, 2005. To provide a lasting memento of this event accessible to all, a streaming video of this presentation and all future Distinguished Alumni seminars will be available on our web site. Dr. Full’s presentation can be viewed at http://stream.buffalo.edu/shared/devo/meta/real/bio614.ram . In a second event, our graduate students organized the first annual Biological Sciences Graduate Research Symposium. In addition to Biological Sciences faculty and students, the all day event was attended by both community and University scientists and was a great success. The excitement surrounding this symposium, together with the quality and professionalism of the student’s efforts ensure that this will be a recurring event.

In closing, I hope that this brief summary of happenings in the Department of Biological Sciences here and inside this issue of BioNews illustrates that change is not the only constant in life. The other constant is the dedication of the faculty, staff and students in the Department of Biological Sciences toward the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and service. Happy reading!

Dr. Gerald Koudelka, Chair, Department of Biological Sciences

faculty news . . .

Dr. Philip Miles, Emeritus Professor, was honored this past April at the University’s annual Celebration of Academic Excellence for 50 years of outstanding service to UB.

Dr. Miles is the former president of the World Society of Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products and a current member of its executive board, and has also served as the international editor of the Mexican journal Micologia Neotropical Applicada, one of the world’s major publications in the fungal biology field.

Dr. Miles (center) receives award from President Simpson and Dr. Tripathi (right)

Since joining UB in 1956, Dr. Miles has played a major role in developing the biological sciences curriculum and has become known by generations of undergraduate and graduate students as a consummate teacher-scholar who consistently brings the latest groundbreaking research developments in his field into the classroom. In recognition of his outstanding teaching and dedicated mentorship, he has been honored with a 1998 State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, as well as a 2004 Milton Plesur Award for Excellence in teaching.

Michael S. Hudecki (M.A., ’70, Ph.D., ’72), recently retired former Executive Officer of the Department was an invited panelist for UB’s Diversity and Leadership panel discussion series entitled “Leaders with Disabilities” held in April. Professional leaders with disabilities from a variety of fields spoke about their leadership skills and shared advice and insight on how they have achieved success. Panelists also provided their best advice to students entering the workforce and starting on their career paths.

Dr. Clyde “Kipp” Herreid was named recipient of the Milton Plesur Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Herreid teaches Bio 200, Evolutionary Biology, each fall semester and since 1996 has been Director of the NSF-supported National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.

Dr. Herreid second from left (Photo by: Chu Fung Chan/The Spectrum)

The award is named for Professor Milton Plesur, a faculty member in the History Department who died in 1987. The award is presented each year by the Undergraduate Student Association to faculty for the quality of their teaching and their commitment to their students.

Dr. Ronald Berezney, Professor, was among 100 principal investigators who were honored at a reception in fall 2005 hosted by President John B. Simpson and Provost Satish Tripathi in recognition for having the highest totals among UB faculty members for federal awards as of October 1, 2005.

Dr. James O. Berry, Associate Professor, hosted Heiko Ziebell, a Ph.D. student from the University of Cambridge in England, in November 2005 and again in January 2006. With support of travel grants from the Society for Experimental Biology and the Company of Biologists Travel Fund, Ziebell visited Dr. Berry’s laboratory to use in situ hybridization of plant tissues in order to detect viral RNAs, as part of his dissertation research on “cross-protection,” a strategy to “immunize” plants against viruses. With Dr. Berry’s help, Ziebell successfully processed and analyzed plant leaves, using various methods to visualize his hybridized samples.

Dr. Christopher A. Loretz, Associate Professor, and his wife, Catherine Pollina-Loretz, Staff Associate, were visiting researchers at the University of Tokyo Ocean Research Institute (ORI) during June-July 2005 and 2006. As an Invitation Research Fellow under the auspices of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Loretz worked with colleagues at ORI on an immunohistochemical study of the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) in fishes. Accumulating evidence points to CaR as an integral component in successful salinity acclimation by euryhaline fishes (those fishes that move freely between fresh water and seawater). Better understanding of CaRs through comparative studies on the structure, function and expression of this important membrane protein in fishes and in other vertebrates has wide-ranging practical applications to areas such as aquaculture and human health. During his two-month fellowship, Loretz gave seminars and data presentations at ORI, at the National Institute for Physiological Sciences in Okazaki, and at Sado Marine Biological Station of Niigata University.

Dr. Mary A. Bisson, Professor, was on sabbatical leave from May to August 2005 with M.J. Beilby at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, working on turgor regulation in the marine algae Ventricaria. She wrote two review papers and is working on a research paper describing the team’s biophysical approaches to look at responses to changes in salinity. From August to December 2005, Dr. Bisson continued her sabbatical with R. Lew at York University in Toronto, Ontario. They studied light effects on electrical responses in the model plants Arabidopsis, to better understand how light controls plant growth and development.

Dr. Michael Yu, has joined the Department of Biological Sciences in fall 2006 as an Assistant Professor. Michael received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles where he studied gene expression in the protozoan parasites. He conducted his post-doctoral training as an NIH-postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Pamela A. Silver at Harvard Medical School. Michael is interested in understanding the biology of protein arginine methyltransferases. Using budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism, Michael is currently investigating the role of protein arginine methyltransferase in gene expression and genome maintenance using genomic, molecular, and biochemical techniques. A future goal of Michael’s research is to explore the notion of using stem cells as a model system for addressing fundamental questions in biology.

Dr. Denise Ferkey, Assistant Professor as of fall 2006, received her bachelor’s degree from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI. She began her research career when she received an NSF-REU fellowship to spend the summer of 1994 in the lab of Dr. Paul Laybourn at Colorado State University. She then went on to earn her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Washington, where she worked with Dr. David Kimelman. Her thesis explored how the Wnt signal transduction pathway is regulated during early embryonic development. From there, she undertook her postdoctoral work in the lab of Dr. Anne Hart at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center where, as an American Cancer Society Fellow, she has studied the regulation of G protein-coupled sensory signaling in the nematode C. elegans. Denise says, “C. elegans is an extraordinary model organism for neurobiologists. Whereas the human brain has over 100 billion neurons, the entire C. elegans nervous system consists of just 302. The physical positions and synaptic connectivity of every neuron is known, allowing us to study the regulation of signaling not only in individual neurons, but also in the context of neuronal circuits and the whole living animal.” Denise’s research will address both the basic mechanisms and regulation of sensory signal transduction as well as neuronal modulation of signaling by neurotransmitters such as dopamine.

Dr. Brian Pierchala joined the department in the fall of 2005 as an Assistant Professor. After obtaining a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Pierchala continued his research pursuits at the Washington University School of Medicine. There he investigated the molecular mechanisms by which neurotrophic factors guide the development of the peripheral nervous system. Pierchala’s research is supported by a grant from the NIH totaling over $500,000 as he continues to investigate the mechanisms governing neural development and the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders.

Dr. Cynthia Tsui joined the department in the fall of 2005 as a Research Assistant Professor. Tsui obtained her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and her M.D. from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She continued her medical training at Saint Louis University and went on to conduct academic fellowship training in Nephrology at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Tsui is currently investigating the pathophysiology of nephrotic syndromes and is involved in the elucidation of innate adaptive, protective pathways that operate in glomerular kidney diseases.

Om Bahl Memorial Room Dedicated

The Department of Biological Sciences honored the memory of the late Om. P. Bahl, a former Chairman of the Department and a Distinguished UB Professor by naming a newly constructed conference room located in his former office the Om P. Bahl Memorial Conference Room.

Professor Bahl’s family and friends were present at the April 21st dedication. The room is equipped with a laptop computer, computer projector, whiteboard and projection screen and will be used for small classes, research group discussions, and impromptu meetings. Professor Bahl’s accomplishments and commitment to fostering excellence in science greatly enhanced the reputation of the department and UB. It is this spirit that is honored by the dedication of this room.

Dr. Bahl’s family : son-in-law, daughter, and son, Vic Bahl.

Dr. Darrell Doyle, 1978 photo

In Memorium

Dr. Darrell Doyle, former Chairman of the Department from August 1983 to 1992, passed away Monday, August 21, 2006 in Bethlehem, PA. He was a graduate of Lehigh University where he earned B.S. and M.S.degrees, and Johns Hopkins University where he earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry. He joined Roswell Park Cancer Institute in 1973 and was director of the Department of Cell and Tumor Biology prior to his Chairmanship in Biological Sciences. His research focused on the study of proteins in the plasma membrane of cells.

Arrangements are currently being made in the department to honor the memory of Dr. Doyle

class notes . . .

Robert Full (B.A., ’79, M.A., ’82, Ph.D., ’84), Chancellor’s Professor at the University of California at Berkeley, delivered the 4th annual Distinguished Alumnus Speaker Seminar titled "Bipedal Bugs, Galloping Ghosts, and Gripping Geckos; Bio-inspired computer animation, robotics, artificial muscles and adhesives".

Dr. Full earned his Ph.D. in the lab of Dr. Clyde Herreid and subsequently held a research and teaching post-doctoral position at the University of Chicago from 1984 to 1986 during which time he did research at Harvard University. In 1986 he joined the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley as an Assistant Professor of Zoology. In 1997 he became the director of a new biological visualization center.

Drs. Jerry Koudelka, Bob Full, “Kipp” Herreid, and Ron Berezney

Bob directs the Poly-P.E.D.A.L. Laboratory which studies the Performance, Energetics and Dynamics of Animal Locomotion (P.E.D.A.L.) in many-footed creatures (Poly). His research laboratory applies the same techniques used in the study of human gait – 3Dkinematic, force platform and EMG analysis – but in miniature. His internationally recognized research program in comparative physiology and biomechanics has shown how examining a diversity of animals leads to the general discovery of principles of locomotion.

Full’s research has also provided biological inspiration for the design of multi-legged robots and computer animations and his research has been featured in the popular press such as newspapers, various science magazines and on several television shows (CNN, NBC Today Show, ABC World News Tonight, Discovery Channel)

Sunkyu Kim (M.A., ’95, Ph.D., ’98) is currently head of the Oncology Laboratory at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research. He’s involved in cancer drug manufacture and enjoys working at the forefront of applied science especially when some of the drugs have been used in clinical trials.

Eileen Mahoney (B.A., ’74) is president of her own company, Eileen Mahoney Associates, Inc. in Philadelphia, PA. She received her Ph.D. in genetics (chemical carcinogenesis) from Michigan State University and worked as a toxicologist at Xerox Corporation and a private environmental engineering firm before founding her company which specializes in toxicological evaluations and human health risk assessments of chemical exposures.

Marcy (nee Peteroy) Kelly (B.A., ’96) received her Ph.D. in Microbiology/Molecular Genetics from the University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ and is currently an Assistant Professor of Biology at Pace University in New York City. Her research studies the effects of the antimicrobial agent, triclosan, on the emergence of ciprofloxacin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. She is also an American Society for Microbiology Pedagogy Scholar in residence.

student news . . .

Graduate Students host the First Annual Graduate Research Symposium

The first annual Department of Biological Sciences Graduate Research Symposium was held on Thursday, March 16th from 8:30am – 4:30pm in the Center for the Arts on the Amherst Campus. Organized by the graduate students within the department and spearheaded by Diane Ramos and Katie Costanza, the students shared their work in 9 platform presentations and 14 posters. Keynote speaker for the event was Dr. John R. Grehan, Director of Science and Collections at the Buffalo Museum of Science and a faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences at Buffalo State College. The title of his talk was “Science as a Process.” Awards were given to Diane Ramos for Best Presentation, “Winging it: Techniques to test gene function in butterfly wing pattern development" and to Jenny Jamison for Best Poster, “Identifying gorgonian recruits of the genus Pseudopterogorgia using microsatellite primers.” Best Talk Honorable Mention went to Daniel Poland and Yuko Takagi while Best Poster Honorable Mention was given to Narasimha Rao Marella and Ting-Kuei Hsieh.

It is hoped that this event will become an annual tradition which promotes the sharing of research while at the same time increasing communication and collegiality within the Department.

Katie Costanza, Grad Student, Dr. Jerry Koudelka, Chairman, Diane Ramos, Grad Student at the first annual Graduate Research Symposium

Third year graduate student, Laura Hovind, received $600 from the Canadian-American Studies Committee at UB to support her research project "Cladoceran Diversity in Ontario, Canada and its Implications". Laura is currently studying the genetic diversity of a genus of cladocerans, Simocephalus. This work has implications regarding the condition of freshwater, biodiversity and conservation, and further knowledge in these areas can improve studies in such areas of comparative biology as ecology and toxicology that frequently use cladocerans such as Simocephalus in their research.

Tara Bancroft is the Recipient of the Knobloch Endowment Scholarship Award

The department of Biological Sciences is honored to announce that this year’s recipient of the Knobloch Endowment Scholarship is Tara Bancroft. The $1000 annual scholarship is given to an outstanding undergraduate student in the department and is made possible through the generosity of the late Professor Emeritus Irving R. Knobloch, who graduated from UB in 1930 (B.A., magna cum laude) and 1932 (M.S.). A Professor at Michigan State University, he published 12 books and 150 research articles in the biological sciences. Expressing gratitude to his alma mater, UB, for his early training, an endowment was created by Professor Knobloch and his wife Natalie to provide financial assistance to a select number of outstanding undergraduates. Tara is a fourth year student from West Seneca, NY.

Michael Domino is the Christopher White Award Winner

Michael Domino is this year’s recipient of the Christopher White Award, established in honor of former graduate Chris White who was tragically killed in a car accident along with his family. Mr. White typified excellence in academic achievement as well as community service.

Mike is in the University Scholars Program and has generously volunteered his time and talents to numerous on- and off-campus endeavors. He founded and served as first president of the UB Pre Dental Association. He’s been a member of the University Academic Clubs Council, a university orientation aide, UB 101 peer mentor and has assisted in numerous Office of Student Affairs projects. Outside of school he continues to work and volunteer at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Buffalo and the Buffalo Catholic Diocese Youth Department.

Biological Sciences Undergraduates Nominated for Phi Beta Kappa

Fourteen Biological Sciences majors were nominated for induction into Phi Beta Kappa this last academic year. These fourteen new invitees joined nine current Biological Sciences Phi Beta Kappa members. Congratulations to them and those faculty members who have contributed to their success.

They are:

Senior Honors Projects

Two members of this year’s graduating class completed the departmental honors program. In addition to their outstanding achievement in required course work, honor students engage in research projects during their senior year under the supervision of a faculty member. The titles and faculty sponsors of the projects that were completed by this past year’s students are included below.

2006 Graduating Class

This year’s graduation class is listed below. Seventy-nine Bachelors, fourteen Masters and three Ph.D. degrees were conferred.

Among the 45 B.A. and 34 B.S. degrees awarded are 17 students receiving concentration certificates in Pre-Health Studies, 1 in Cell and Molecular Biology, and 3 in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Fifteen of the graduates are inductees into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and 2 received departmental honors of Distinction and High Distinction respectively. Ten members of the class graduated Summa Cum Laude, sixteen Magna Cum Laude and eighteen Cum Laude. Of particular note, Mandeep Samra earned the Outstanding Senior Award.

Congratulations to all of our students and best wishes for much success in their future endeavors.

Class of 2006
Bachelors Degrees

In addition to those students listed who have earned a baccalaureate degree from the Department of Biological Sciences, the following students have earned a Minor in Biological Sciences while attaining a Bachelor's Degree in another discipline within the University:

Diane Dimitrov
Sarah McGovern
Andrea Paoletta
Stephanie Torkelson

2005 - 2006 Graduate Conferrals

The BioNews is edited by Mr. Joe Helfer and Jim Stamos. Please direct any comments, inquiries, submissions or information for future editions to:
helfer@buffalo.edu
stamos@buffalo.edu