Awards Received by Biological Sciences Faculty, Students and Staff

During the 2007–2008 academic year, numerous awards were bestowed upon members of the Department of Biological Sciences. A list of the awards and recipients is below.

Faculty

Berkman Faculty Development Fund (website)
Mark Macbeth, Ph.D.
“Structure, mechanism and regulation of the RNA editing enzymes, adenosine deaminases that act on RNA”

Julius Ashkin Award for Excellence in Teaching (web article)
Amy Burkert, Ph.D.

Graduate Students

Biological Sciences Graduate Student Teaching Award
Ken Hovis
This award is given to a Biological Sciences graduate student for their service to the department with regards to teaching.

Biological Sciences Graduate Student Service and Outreach Award
Jeanne Morin-Leisk
This award is given to a Biological Sciences graduate student for their service within and outside the department.

Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (website)
David Whitney


Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) 2008 Forum (website)
Melissa Witzberger and Ken Hovis
Sciences Teaching Club Poster Presentation

National Institutes of Health – National Research Service Award (website)
Ken Hovis

Joseph F. Mulach and Louisa A. Mulach Scholarship (Pittsburgh Foundation) (website)
Shu Ying Kwan


Mellon College of Science Graduate Student Travel Award Supplement for Spring 2008
Panagiotis Papasaikas
$500 to use toward the 49th Drosophila meeting in San Diego on April 2-6, 2008

Undergraduate Students

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship (web article)
Samuel Kim

Beckman Scholars (website)
Kat McCann
Gregory Newby
Steve Reilly
Natalie Weir

Dozzi Internship Grant (website)
Jonah Klein


Dr. J. Paul Fugassi and Linda E. Monteverde Award (website)
Mariela Zeledón
This award is presented to a graduating female senior with the greatest academic achievement and professional promise.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program – Indonesia (website)
Rashi Venkataraman


Honors Research Symposium
Nahyeon Baek
"Characterization of the oligomerization state of kinesin tail domain constructs"
Advisor:  David D. Hackney, Ph.D.

Elyse Maiorini
"The Role of Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate in CopII Assembly"
Advisor: Christina H. Lee, Ph.D.

Christina Onorato
"The Development of Layer 2/3 Horizontal Connections in Tree Shrew Primary Visual Cortex"
Advisor: Justin C. Crowley, Ph.D.

Lauren Thorpe
"Assessing the Cellular Consequences of Loss of APC Function throughout Development of Drosophila Wings"
Advisor: Brooke M. McCartney, Ph.D.

Cody Vild
"Identifying the mechanism of regulation of Pros35 in Ventral Furrow Formation during Drosophila embryonic development"
Advisor: Jonathan M. Minden, Ph.D.

Mariela Zeledon
"PBN1 Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae"
Advisor: Elizabeth W. Jones, Ph.D.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute's (HHMI) Gilliam Fellowship for Advanced Study (web article)
Bertrade "Betty" Mbom

Joseph F. Mulach and Louisa A. Mulach Scholarship (Pittsburgh Foundation) (website)
Andrea Poon


NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (website)

Awarded:
Mariela Zeledón

Honorable Mention:
Lauren M Thorpe
Field of Study: Life Sciences – Virology
2008 graduate, who will be attending Harvard University

Pickering Scholarship (website)
Pavitra Athakitkarnka

Katherine Chiapaikeo


Sigma Xi Poster Competition (web article)
Gregory Newby (Runner-up)
“Research and Development of Protease Biosensors Using scFv Constructs”
Advisor: Peter B. Berget, Ph.D.

Rohit Ramnath (Runner-up)
“Development of Neural Networks in Mouse Accessory Olfactory Bulb”
Advisor: Nathan Urban, Ph.D.

Student Nominated Commencement Speaker
Bertrade "Betty" Mbom

Staff

Mellon College of Science Award for Outstanding Achievement (web article)
Al Scheuring

Alumni

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (website)

Honorable Mention:
Jared W Wenger
Field of Study: Life Sciences - Genetics
Currently attending Stanford University School of Medicine

Marciela M DeGrace
Field of Study: Life Sciences – Virology
Currently attending Harvard University