Biological Sciences Student Recognition
DJ Eichenberger, Biological Sciences graduate student, Ron Coleman, Biological Sciences, and Linda Roberts , Chemistry, were awarded a $10,000 grant from the Water Forum to work on the biochemistry of salmon eggs. The project is being funded as part of the CREST, Center for Regional Environmental Science and Technology, initiative.
Lynn Drennan (Biological Sciences graduate student) received a $900 grant from the American Cichlid Association to conduct research on sexual selection and mate choice by cichlid fishes. [ CSUS Bulletin , vol 11, number 26, April 11, 2005].
Lesley Hamamoto (Biological Sciences graduate student) received a $500 grant from the Pacific Coast Cichlid Association to study the biology of water molds that affect fish eggs. [ CSUS Bulletin , vol 11, number 26, April 11, 2005].
Rob Grasso (Biological Sciences graduate student) shared first place in the CSUS Student Research Competition held on March 5, 2005. The other first place went to Rebecca Money (a graduate student in Geotechnical Engineering). Two other Biology students participated, namely Samantha Hilber and Bianka Bommarito. Rob, Samantha and Bianka were all selected for the CSUS team to represent our campus at the systemwide competition to be held April 29-30.
MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS (FEBRUARY 17, 2005)
For two consecutive years, Biological majors have received the Merit Scholarship Award.
Winners are chosen based upon high academic achievement and their service and contributions to the campus and community. The scholarship award is equivalent to registration fees for the spring 2005 semester.
Samantha Hilber, a senior biology major, is conducting research of the eggs of convict cichlid fish for a student research competition and is active at the University as a new student orientation leader, a member of the marching band and a coach for a Special Olympics soccer team. Hilber plans to attend graduate school to study animal behavior.
Undergraduate Award Winner and Biological Sciences Major: Samantha Hilber (third from left), Faculty Sponsors, Nick Ewing (far left) and Ronald Coleman (far right), Professors of Biological Sciences
July 2004
MARTHA VOLKOFF (graduate student in Biological Sciences)
Presented an oral paper " Stock Identification of Central Valley Chinook Salmon Using Otolith Microstructure " at the Third International Symposium on Fish Otolith Research and Application held in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. [ CSUS Bulletin , vol 11, number 13, November 15, 2004].
June 2004
AMEER THOMPSON (undergraduate in Biological Sciences)
Presented an oral paper " A test of the Misdirection Hypothesis for False Eyespots Using Parental Convict Cichlids " at the Animal Behavior Society meeting in Oaxaca, Mexico. Ron Coleman (Assistant Professor) also presented an oral paper " Tunnel Nesting and Nonadhesive Eggs in a Central American Cichlid, Hypsosphrys nicaraguense" at the same conference. [ CSUS Bulletin , vol 11, number 13, November 15, 2004].
MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS (FEBRUARY 19, 2004)
Bob Metcalf (Biological Sciences), Jennifer Lundmark (Biological Sciences), Melissa Johnson, Biological Sciences Major, Undergraduate Recipient, Juanita Barrena (Biological Sciences, and Bob Buckley (Senate Chair)
McNAIR SCHOLARS AND THEIR RESEARCH PROJECTS - 2002 -2003
Melissa Johnson, Biological Science Major
Title: An Analysis of Escherichia coli in American and Tanzanian Water Samples
Abstract: Two strains of Escherichia coli were examined for levels of heat resistance in relation to heating rate. The research was divided into four phases. In Phase I, samples of sterile river water were inoculated with an ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) strain of E. coli, and D-values were determined for 58ºC, 60ºC, and 62ºC. In Phase II, several water baths were inoculated with the ATCC type strain, and the temperatures of the baths were increased from 50-61ºC at the rates of 1ºC/ .5 minute, 1ºC/ 2 minute, and 1ºC/ 11 minute. The results revealed that a decrease in heating rate led to an increase in mortality over a given unit of time. In Phase III, one temperature (D-value of 1 minute) was used to heat two strains of E. coli present in water samples; the first strain was an ATCC strain, and the second was a strain isolated from Tanzania water samples. The results were used to determine if heat resistance was similar in related strains of E. coli. In Phase IV, the procedures in phase I were repeated using a solar cooker to determine if the results in the lab could be replicated using a natural setting. The information obtained in this study will be applied to the solar water pasteurization projects conducted yearly in Tanzania and Kenya, under the auspice of Dr. Robert Metcalf, Professor of Microbiology at California State University, Sacramento.
Selection Criteria
Low income and first generation and/or under-representation in academic area
Completion of at least 45 units upon entrance into the program
Enrollment at CSUS on a full-time basis
3.0 GPA or above
U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
Willingness to commit to the program requirements
Desire and motivation to earn a doctoral degree
