Alumni News Biology Department

Fall 2016 William Paterson University Vol. 40 10th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium

Inside: 2016 Graduates 2 Awards Ceremony 2 Commencement 2016 2 Faculty News 3 Alumni Activities 4-6 Sports 6

The 10th Annual William Paterson University Research Symposium was held on April 9, 2016. This symposium showcases research conducted by students under the mentorship of faculty members to further their pursuit of careers in a diverse range of top- ics. It is fair to conclude that the symposium was a great success! Not only did we highlight the research being done by undergradu- ate students, but we also invited Alumni from Biology and Chemistry to participate in 10th anniversary celebration of the symposium. On the evening of April 8th, six biology graduate students enrolled in thesis research (Bio. 7990) presented their work to Faculty, Dean, Associate Dean and alumni. This was followed by dinner organized in honor of our Alumni who interacted informally with our current students as well as faculty. It was obvious how passionate our alumni are about seeking and maintaining connec- tions with their alma mater. At the end of second poster session, alumni panel discussion was held as a part of College of Science and Health effort to continue interaction between current and former students. A panel of 13 alumni volunteered for a discussion with our undergraduates. The most important impact of discussion between the undergraduates and the alumni was that the students gained an insight of a ‘real world’ perspective about Ph. D. program, medical school, industry jobs etc. by hearing the experiences and advice from these alumni. Alumni also expressed feelings of honor and pride to be able to give back and help our students in the career path they are pursuing. At the April 9th Symposium students and faculty from about 34 colleges and universities from the tristate area participated. 134 students presented their research achievements in the biological and chemical sciences. There were morning and afternoon poster sessions, and all the abstracts were published in the Symposium Proceedings. The symposium featured a keynote lecture by Dr. Liz Nolan from the Chemistry Department of MIT. Biology department alumni who spoke at the alumni panel discussion are shown below, to the left. Left to right: Traci God- din (BS ’14), Darci Shinn (BS ’06), Juan Carlos Claros-Sorto (BS ’08), Maria Bell (MS ’08) and Neal Joshi (BS ’15). Below on the right are some of the undergraduates who won awards at the symposium. Page 2 Volume 40

Biology/Biotechnology Degrees Awarded Awards Ceremony 2016 2016

B.S. Degree On May 12, 2016 an awards cere- January 2016 mony was held for graduating sen- Rebecca Barretto Atencio Cindy Valentina Del Valle Rivas Samanta Melo-Salazar iors and students receiving awards. Jennifer Kathleen Ball Michael Thomas Gordon Deepal Hiteshkumar Patel Chabelly Batista Peter Mokhtar Habib Claudia A. Reid Elias Maxwell Bisgeier Luis M. Hernandez Meriah Jordan Roche The Outstanding Senior Award re- Corey Addison Buklad Christina Kohn Virginia Raye Rock Robin V. Castillo Cyrill Joseph Lagrazon Cortnee D. Utsey cipients were Unnati Chauhan and Erin Marie Connor Mariel Joselin Mata Edwin Urena Stephanie Costa. Daniel Cynar Elias Maxwell Bisgeier

The Capstone Award (highest B.S. Degree achievement on capstone exam) May 2016 went to Peter Habib, Christopher Sarah Ahn Fernando Europa Mikolaj Mika Icochea. Christiana Akerele Patrick Fardella Sean Mulhern Nkosi Asphall Estefania Gallo Francisco Munoz Renae Barsbay Amanda Gannon Shivangi Patel The Undergraduate Research Award Yael Benji Andrew Gauker Kyle Rayment Alison Caceres Cynthia Gause Nilu Rudani recipient was Rebecca Atencio, Erin Unnati Chauhan Steven Gross Helena Schoppe Connor, Unnati Chauhan. Stephanie Costa David Hill Branden Sanabria Brenda DeLosSantos Christopher Icochea Ramazan Sela Carolina Dentone Jaclyn Janus Brittany Simon The C. Kent Warner Award recipi- David Diaz Christopher Jiron Kimberly Valdivia Zoryana Dougan Joyce June Dana Weaver ent was Unnati Chauhan. Shermane Dowdy Joel Marrero Natasha Williams Noor Eldabagh David Mendez May Anne Yap Edwin Elias Dagmara Michna Shanice Yelverton The C. Kent Warner Scholarship recipients were Dorisa Ceko, Reem Eldabagh, Christeena Kuriakose, B.S. Degree Summer 2016 Julia MacDonald, Sylvia Wasser- man. Marie-ellan Arlette Sahil Rana Brittney Cevallos Peter Rogers Aleksandra Momiroska Bianca Serrano Collazo GS-LSAMP-BIOLOGY High Ashley Newman Kerowyn Smith Sanserei Aiah Pilapil GPA Award (for fall 2015) went to Karen Abboud, Unnati Chauhan, Stephanie Costa, Reem Eldabagh, Sylvia Wasserman. M.S. Degree M.S. Degree May 2016 Summer 2016 Inductees into the Beta Beta Beta Alicia Bartley Megan McAleavy Biological Society CHI RHO Chapter were Daniela Artiga, Ali- son Caceres, Patrick Fardella, Joyce June, Julia MacDonald, Joel Marre- ro, Dagmara Michna, Rachel Mur- ray, Sirai Ramirez, Franklin Roque, Helena Schoppe, Ramazan Sela, Sylvia Wasserman. Faculty/Staff News Page 3

Dr. Benno is continuing his research Dr. Martin purchased a new Biolog sys- Dr. Sebetich on autistic behavior in mice. His presenta- tem that can identify culturable bacteria (emeritus) is seen tion at the Annual Meeting of the Society using 96 different metabolic tests in a to the right show- for Neuroscience multi-well, plate-culture system. His wife, ing off what he’s was in the 1% Nan Perigo is now Research Facilities doing now that he designated as Manager for the New Jersey Center for is retired. a Neuroscience Science, Technology and Mathematics at 2016 Hot Topic. Kean. They traveled with their children to When he was not busy with his chair du- When he’s not Disney World & Universal Studios over ties and conducting his dune grass work doing science, with Dr. Peek, Dr. Slaymaker enjoyed the summer. Dr. Benno likes to hiking in the Rockies and he is already hang out in New Orleans and listen to Dr. Emmanuel Onaivi is presently host- dreaming of getting back to the moun- jazz. He and Dr. Gardner met there this ing postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Ana Canseco tains next summer. in his laboratory. In March, Dr. Onaivi, summer at the Satchmo Fest in Jackson Dr. Spagna completed a sabbatical at Eugene Dennis and Norman Schanz pre- Square. University of California Davis, working on sented their work at the Marijuana and Dr. Desroches wrote new editions of secondary structure of spider and arach- cannabinoid neuroscience research sum- the General A&PI 1 and II and Basic A&PI nid ribosomal genes, and using that to re- mit in Bethesda. 1 and II lab manuals. She also was in- analyze the deep evolutionary divergenc- volved in a Summer Explorations in bio- Dr. Peek and Dr. Slaymaker continue to es in the Arachnida. His student, Dana medical careers program for High School ‘work’ on the NJ beaches, collecting Weaver presented her research on the students. She supported 29 summer in- American Beachgrass leaves for genotyp- evolution of Trichoptera to the 9/8 Board terns with money from the GS LSAMP ing and the pres- of Trustees meeting. ence of a fungal grant and the provost, and edited the new Dr. Vail had two GS-LSAMP students endophyte. The (2016) edition of Research this summer (Cristina Rodriguez and most recent out- Publications. Biannerys Pujols) working on ant eco- ing was to 2-mile Dr. Gardner managed to physiology. They presented a poster at beach in the do some traveling last sum- the GS-LSAMP conference in October. Cape May Na- mer. She met up with the He is currently taking a one-semester tional Wildlife Dr. Benno and his family sabbatical dedicated to various aspects Refuge, Wildwood Crest, NJ. in New Orleans (above), of ant biology. With Dr. Gilley he is pre- then she and her husband Dr. Lance Risley and his student, Julia paring to team-teach a revised Parasitol- traveled to Belize and Gua- MacDonald, were featured on the front ogy course again in Spring 2017. page of the Bergen Record on October temala. Dr. Miryam Wahrman published The 17th in an article about their work with the Dr. Gilley established the new Biology Hand Book: Surviving in a Germ-Filled threatened northern long-eared bat. The Department Student Apiary with a dona- World(ForeEdge Press), which provides northern long- tion of honey bee colonies from the New handy tips to reduce the risk of infectious eared bat popu- Jersey Beekeepers Association. The api- disease. She was interviewed about The lation has plum- ary is an outdoor extension of the honey Hand Book on numerous radio programs, meted by about bee lab that will allow deep integration of on TV and in newspaper articles. Dr. 99% white-nose honey bees and beekeeping into the Biol- Wahrman also organized and ran a sym- syndrome fun- ogy Depart- posium: World Hand Hygiene Day Forum: gus entered the ment’s student- Surviving in a Germ-Filled World in May. area. Using faculty research She was the recipient of the WPUNJ acoustic equip- and teaching. 2016 Faculty Award for Excellence in ment that detects high pitched bat Nicole Miller Research/Scholarship/Creative Expres- sounds, they are able to study and track and Trevor sion in May 2016. bats in the High Mountain Preserve. Courtright are Once detected, bats were trapped, and shown working tagged so they could be tracked to discov- with bees for er their roosting locations. their honors research projects. The Biology department’s rare corpse flower plant, Amorphophallus titanium, bloomed for the first time this summer on July 2nd. The department obtained and planted the bulb in the greenhouse in 2012. Amorphophallus titanium is a plant that blooms briefly and infrequently, especially in cultivation. The bloom smells like rotting flesh, which is why it is known as the corpse flower. Photo Credit: Mike Wyrwa Pictured above: The Biology Faculty at the annual retreat in May Biology Department Alumni News Page 4 1987 Jeniffer Musyoki (BS ’09) has Ashley Miranda (BS ’12) is now La- William Ellgren (BS, ’87) and his come back to WPU and is now en- boratory Technician at Compass family met with Dr. Sebetich and his rolled in the master’s program in Bio- Group. wife in St. technology. Vivin Mohan (BS ’12) is now a Clini- Augus- Jennifer Johnson Urban (BS ’09) cal Research Coordinator at the Uni- tine. They is defending her PhD thesis at Brown versity of Miami - Miller School of had not University this December. She was Medicine. He received his M.S.as a seen or one of the alumni who attended the Clinical Research Coordinator communi- Undergraduate Research Symposi- (Hematology/Oncology) from Rutgers cated with um this April. Newark in 2014. each other in about 31 2010 2013 years. Bill Peter Tlatelpa (BS ’10) received Heather Baker (BS ’13) works for a originally planned to spend two years his PhD in Chemistry from NJIT and pharmaceutical company as an ac- at WPU and then transfer, but was been accepted as a postdoctoral fel- countant and is married to Eles Ledi- so impressed with WP that he decid- low at NYU. na who also graduated from WPU ed to get his degree. Bill is working John Urban (BS ’10) came to the with a BS in Biology (2014). as an Industrial Hygienist for the U.S. Undergraduate Research Symposi- Debbie Cho (PB ’13) is now Com- Navy at Naval Air Station Jackson- um in April. He will be defending his pany Commander for the United ville in Florida. He is married with a PhD thesis at Brown University this States Army National Guard. She is wonderful 9 year old daughter and December. also a Biology/Environmental Science gives special thanks to Dr. Sebetich Teacher. for getting him started in his career. 2011 Larissa Nkouami Pamen (MS BT Asiel Benitez (BS, ’11) received his ’13) finished her first year of medical 1989 PhD from the Icahn School of Medi- school at Stony Brook. She now is Dave Vollenweider (BS ’89) took cine at Mount Sinai this year and juggling her second year with a new Evolution from the late John Rosen- now is a postdoctoral fellow at Re- baby boy Paul-Joseph! gren. Dr. generon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Danielle Sommerville (BS ’13) is in Rosengren her third year teaching at Westwood gave his 2012 High School and is now back at Wil- students a Chima Amadi (’12) liam Paterson working on her mas- list of plac- graduated from ter’s degree as a Teacher of Students es to visit Cornell University. with Disabilities. during their He has now been life and told accepted by the 2014 them to tell him about it. Dave is sad- Stony Brook Medi- Matthew Asmar (BS ’14) finished dened that he cannot tell Dr. Rosen- cal School MD/MBA his Physician’s Assistant training at gren that he visited the Galapagos program, and start- King’s College in Wilkes Barre, PA, Islands off Ecuador. He says it was ed their medical program in August passed his Boards on October 6th the most INCREDIBLE trip for any (photo on right). and is in the process of interviewing biologist/nature lover. They swam Alban Biba (BS 12') has been with Hackensack and St. Mary's hos- with Galapagos sea lions, snorkeled teaching middle school and Biologi- pital for a CCU and Hospitalist posi- with giant Pacific sea turtles, and had cal Sciences at iLearn schools for the tion, respectively. finches eating off the plates in res- past three years. He is doing his Traci-Lin Goddin (BS ’14) is a vi- taurants. They even visited the Masters in Educational Leadership sion therapist at EyeCare Associates. Charles Darwin Research Station. from Ramapo College in order to She volunteers as an EMT and spoke Dave is also still operating his fishing become a Science Supervisor. He on the alumni panel at our Under- guide business, ‘Live to Fish Guide has also been working at Montclair graduate Research Symposium in Service’, and has been teaching biol- State University Gifted and Talented April. ogy at Passaic High School for 20 program focusing on STEM initia- Eles Ledina (BS ’14) is married to years. tives. Heather Baker (BS ’13) and is cur- Meriam Karimi (BS BT ’12) is cur- rently a Biology teacher at Elmwood 2000 rently an Aggregate Report Coordi- Park High School. Betzi Sevilla (BS ‘09) is a senior nator at Bayer Consumer Care in Jenna Tosto (BS ’14) is now a CTA at Quintiles. Whippany. Graduate Student Researcher at Temple University

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2015 Jazzmine Paz (BS ’15) is now a Pro- Branden Sanabria (BS ’16) is now Barbara Abboud (BS ’15) is now fessional 1 student in the Doctor of continuing his education in the mas- attending Farleigh Dickenson School Pharmacy Program of Fairleigh Dickin- ter’s program in Biotechnology here at of Pharmacy. She came to speak to son University at Florham Park, NJ. She WPUNJ. the College of Science & Health pre- works part time as a Pharmacy Techni- Jeovan Santos (’16) was accepted professional club FHP (Future cian at CVS Pharmacy at Garfield, NJ. into the 3+3 Physical Therapy Program Healthcare Providers). Barbara Heather Szendi (BS ’15) started at Rutgers. brought with her the Pre-Admissions teaching at Immaculate Conception Helena Schoppe (BS ’16) was ac- advisor, Mr. Peter Buchner. They High School in Montclair, NJ. She will cepted into a BS Nursing program. were both incredibly helpful to our be teaching all Biology courses, includ- Dana Weaver (BS ’16) graduated students in giving our students hints ed Honors. Additionally, she will be de- Magna Cum Laude in May. She is now and suggestions signing the SAT Math prep course and enrolled in the MS program at WP. A Ammar Ali (BS ’15) is now in the helping to write new district curriculum student of Dr. Spagna’s, she made a MS program in Biology here at in Science for the 2017-2018 school very good impression when she pre- WPUNJ. He is also teaching as an year. sented her research on the evolution of adjunct professor. Sneha Tammareddy (BS’15) got ac- Daniel Arencibia (’15) is excited to cepted into Touro Dental School in be pursuing a degree in marine biolo- Westchester NY. gy at the University of Hawaii He is Jasmine Wood (BS ’15) started at the planning on working on the molecular University of Rochester Medical School ecology of different species of corals in August. She is doing well – likes the in monitoring their stress and re- program, the curriculum and says that sponses to the invasive alga G. sali- ‘the city of Rochester is fantastic, it's cornia. cheap to live and there's so much cul- Trichoptera in the family Oligophle- ture and lots of things to do! Devon Atkinson (BS BT ’15) is cur- bodes to the Board of Trustees’ Sept. rently working towards her master’s th 8 meeting. She is now continuing her degree at the School of Medicine, 2016 studies in the masters program at University of Maryland in Balti- Jennifer Ball (BS ’16) was accepted more. She got scouted by a lab based into and is now enrolled in the WPUNJ WPUNJ. on her research with Dr. Benno. She BS in Nursing program. is considering entering their PhD pro- Nathan Carroll (BA ‘06/PB ’16) is now gram once she finishes her degree attending Rowan School of Osteopathic next year. Medicine. He came and spoke to the Neal Joshi (BS ’15) was accepted College of Science & Health pre- into Rowan University's DO program, professional club FHP (Future and will be part of the DO/PhD pro- Healthcare Providers). This was very gram there. He spoke on the alumni helpful to our students. panel at our Undergraduate Research Eugene Dennis (BS ’16) is now in the Symposium in April. Masters program in Biology at WPUNJ, Giorgi Kardziani (BS ’15) was ac- and also teaching here as an adjunct cepted to St. George Medical School. professor. Daria Nowosielecki (G ND ‘15) was Steven Gross (BS ’16) graduated accepted into and is attending Rut- Magna Cum Laude in May. He has gers University School of Nursing. been hired by Piscataway High School Some Biology department alumni who Frank Oliver (BS ’15) is a DO Candi- as a Resource Biology Teacher and has came to the Undergraduate Research date (Class of 2019) at Rowan Uni- also been accepted by Rowan Universi- Symposium in April. Left to right: Maria versity School of Osteopathic Medi- ty into the online TOSD Graduate En- Bell (MS ’08), Darci Shinn (BS ’06), cine. He is the president of the Stu- dorsement program. Jennifer Johnson Urban (BS ’09), Traci dent Osteopathic Surgical Associa- Joyce June (BS ’16) has applied to Goddin (BS ’14), John Urban (BS ’10) tion. Last summer he went on a medi- dental schools and is waiting for results. Anthony Riga (BS Chem ’14) and cal mission trip to Ghana, Africa Elizabeth Los (’16) was accepted into Juan Carlos Claros-Sorto (BS ’08). through BlueMedAfrica. There he the 3+3 Physical Therapy Program at was able to volunteer at the local hos- Rutgers. pitals, provide care at remote villages Samantha Morris (’16) was accepted and provide care and bandages at a into the 3+3 Physical Therapy Program cured leprosy village. at Rutgers.

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9th Annual Biology Department Student Faculty Softball Game The game was held on May 13th 2016. After an exciting game, the score was 12-12. Since a tie goes to the old people, once again, the faculty team pre- vailed. As usual, the game was arranged by Dr. Peek.