The Department of Biology at East Stroudsburg University recently participated in three conferences allowing students to present research they’ve completed during their studies at ESU.
The Northeast Natural History Conference was held in Springfield, Mass. April 4-6. Five students and their faculty mentors presented research during the conference. Kelly Murman, a graduate student from Avoca, Pa., gave an oral presentation on A Dietary Analysis of Four Streamside Salamander Species in Eastern Pennsylvania. Audrey Sauter, a graduate student from Cincinnati, Ohio, gave an oral presentation on Health and Demographics of Chelonian Species Utilizing Herbicide-Treated Retention Ponds. Peter Kaires, a graduate student from Dingmans Ferry, Pa., presented a poster on Effects of Urbanization on Spring Ephemeral Phenology. Adrianna Kaplinski, a senior from Long Valley, N.J., presented a poster on Scientific Illustrations of Pennsylvania Treehoppers. Samuel Does, a January 2025 graduate from Pen Argyl, Pa., presented a poster on Camera vs. Live Traps: Comparing Methods for Small-Mammal Detection. Faculty mentors from the biology department included Emily Rollinson, Ph.D., associate professor and co-chair; Sandy Whidden, Ph.D., professor; Jennifer White, Ph.D., associate professor; Terry Master, Ph.D., professor emeritus; Thomas LaDuke, Ph.D., associate professor; and Matthew Wallace, Ph.D., professor and co-chair. Darlene Farris-LaBar, professor and chair of art + media + design, was also a mentor for Kaplinski.
The56th Annual Meeting of the Commonwealth of PA University Biologists (CPUB) was held on the campus of Bloomsburg University on April 5.
During the conference, Gianna Donahue, a senior from Nanticoke, Pa.; Grace Freda, a senior from Oak Ridge, N.J.; and Evan Simmons, a senior from Cresco, Pa.; presented Preliminary analysis reveals increased activity of oxidative stress enzymes post exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles in Daphnia magna. Their project was developed from course-based research the students conducted in the Animal Physiology lab course. Nathan Schuessler, a senior from Rixford, Pa., presented Generation of CKL (cyclin-dependent kinase-like) mutant plants expressing a Pi biosensor via cross-pollinations. Their faculty mentors from the biology department were Tracy Whitford, Ph.D., assistant professor; Shiqi Zhang, Ph.D., assistant professor; and Bernardo Mesa Cruz, Ph.D., assistant professor.
During the conference, student awards were also given out. Schuessler received the 2025 Outstanding Student Award for ESU and 2nd place in Cellular and Molecular Biology platform presentations. Donahue, Freda, and Simmons earned 2nd place in Ecology, Evolution and Organismal poster presentations. Two students were awarded funding through the CPUB student research grant. Carter Gambill, a senior from East Stroudsburg, Pa., will research the Development of a Brachypodium-specific genetically encoded nitrate fluorescent biosensor for AM symbiosis research. Heidi Free, a graduate student from Washington, N.J., will conduct research on Characterization of lipidome profile to evaluate the hibernation and reproductive physiology of American black bears (Ursus americanus).
During the 100th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science, held in Harrisburg April 11-13, Nicholas Aiello, a junior from Hawley, Pa., presented a poster tilted Efficacy of Phage K on killing Staphylococcus aureus grown in biofilm” with Josh Loomis, Ph.D., associate professor of biology.
Lear more about ESU’s biological sciences program by visiting esu.edu/biology.