Inside Biology & Physical Education
These are exciting times in Biology and Physical Education at NU. With the completion and opening of the new Molecular and Integrative Biology Research Lab and the establishment of a lively Exercise Physiology research program, opportunities for hands-on student research continue to expand.
- Exceptional Student Activity
- Faculty Awards
- Promotions and Honors
- New Faculty
- Professional Faculty Activity
Exceptional Student Activity
Opportunities for field and lab work expand every year and the students involved learn how to apply the knowledge they gain in their course work to real-world questions. This past summer saw numerous projects begin and others pick up where they left off. Prof. Bill Barnard mentored the following students on their indicated projects:
2007 Emily Poulin: Abundance and Distribution of Freshwater Sponges in Vermont. Norwich University Student Summer Research Fellowship.
2007 Tim Blood: DNA sequencing of Freshwater Sponges. Vermont Genetics Network Summer Research Fellowship.
2007 Heather Flavell: Detection of Low Levels of Blood Parasites in Gray Jays Using a PCR Protocol. Norwich University Student Summer Research Fellowship.
Faculty Awards
Prof. Bill Barnard was awarded a faculty research grant for his project Molecular Ecology of Gray Jays (Perisoreus canadensis). Project is to look at gene flow between Northern Vermont Gray Jay populations.
Promotions and Honors
Assistant Professor of Physical Education Elizabeth Wuorinen
successfully defended her doctoral thesis at the University of Michigan
titled “Detection of Exercise Energy Expenditure” on
9/7/2007
New Faculty
Elizabeth Wuorinen joined the Biology and Physical Education in 2005. Prof. Wuorinen grew up in Bargara, Michigan, and attended Central Michigan University earning a B.S. in Health Fitness/Health Promotion. Prof. Wuorinen then earned a M.S. in Exercise Science from Northern Michigan University, and recently earned a PhD. from the University of Michigan in Kinesiology, specializing in Exercise Endocrinology. Prof. Wuorinen is an avid runner and enjoys spending time with her family.
Tom Roberge joined the Biology and Physical Education Faculty in
2006. Prof. Roberge earned a B.S. from Johnson State College in
Vermont and a M.Ed. at St. Michael’s College. Prof. Roberge
resides in Middlesex, VT, with his family and spends his free time
working on his house and property and exercising.
Professional Faculty Activity
Prof. Bill Barnard gave the following presentations:
Prevalence of Blood Parasites in Rusty Blackbirds (Euphagus carolinus). Poster. Assoc. of Field Ornithology,Annual meeting. July 26-29. Univ. Maine, Orono.
Blood Parasites of Rusty Blackbirds (Euphagus carolinus) Sampled Winter 2006 Mississippi. Poster. International Rusty Blackbird Workshop. Stoneville, MS. April 2007.
Avian Blood Parasites. Poster. Poster. International Rusty Blackbird Workshop. Stoneville, MS. April 2007.
Dr . Edward Carney is a member of the Program Committee for the 42nd Annual Region I Microbiology Meeting “ Microbiology for Today’s World and Tomorrow’s”. He is also co-chair of the Symposium titled “Microbe Update: Applied and Environmental Microbiology” The meeting is at the Conference Center at Harvard Medical, Boston, November 1-2, 2007 and includes scientists, educators, students and health care profession from New England and New York.
Dr. Carlos Pinkham presented the paper “Evolution is not the Enemy; Intelligent Design is not the Solution” at the Forum on Public Policy for the Oxford Round Table in Oxford, England, 2007.