Alumni Advisory Board Welcome Letter Members Dr. John Atkinson St. Louis, Missouri Dr. James Bredfeldt Seattle, Washington all is here once again, and with this issue of the BioHawk, we bring you news of major Dr. Michael Breed achievements from across the University and in the Biological Sciences. KU has had record- Boulder, Colorado Fbreaking enrollments for the 2008-2009 academic year, with a total of 30,102 students on Dr. David Brown the Lawrence, Edwards, and KU Medical Center campuses. In addition, U.S. News and World Wichita, Kansas Report just ranked us number 40 on its annual list of the top public universities in America, and the F. Nicholas Franano ACT scores for KU’s newest freshman class are almost three points above the national average. Kansas City, Missouri Within the Biological Sciences, for the second year in a row, our graduate program has been Dr. Ben Hall ranked 30th among public universities. Bellevue, Washington Dr. Curtis Harris On pages 2-9, the Director of the Undergraduate Biology Program (KUUB), and the Chairs of the Garrett Park, Maryland Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) and Molecular Biosciences (MB), all high- light recent events and achievements involving their faculties and students. We also provide Dr. John Howieson Portland, Oregon updates on the reorganization of the biological sciences on page 18. With three cooperative and coordinated units, we are more competitive than ever at national and international levels. Dr. Joan Hunt Kansas City, Kansas In this issue, we also focus on KU’s emerging programs in the neurosciences and genetics, and to Dr. Cindi Johnson Shawnee, Kansas our understanding of human behavior. As we noted in last year’s BioHawk, Dean Joseph Steinmetz holds faculty appointments in the Department of Psychology as well as our own Department of Dr. Irving Johnson Molecular Biosciences, and he currently has undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral Sanibel Island, Florida fellows working in his lab on the neurobiology of learning and memory. In addition, we highlight Dr. Simon Kuo the research program of one of our newest faculty members in MB, Dr. Stuart Macdonald. Overland Park, Kansas Dr. Macdonald uses Drosophila fruit flies as a model system to address fundamental questions Michael Linenberger about the molecular genetic basis of variation in complex traits, and his research has important Seattle, Washington implications for understanding disease risk in humans. Drew Masters Montclair, New Jersey On page 19, we highlight Biological Sciences alumnus Dr. Randy Scott. Randy is the Dr. Ray Meyn co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Genomic Health, Incorporated in Redwood City, California. Houston, Texas Randy’s company is helping to lead the way towards individualized cancer treatment in America. Dr. Richard Morgan Lenexa, Kansas We also thank all of the Biological Sciences contributors whom we list on page 21. Your Dr. Ken Nelson thoughtful support is deeply appreciated by all of us, and we urge you to stay in touch, and Wichita, Kansas return to the KU campus as often as possible. Even as KU grows, it retains its beauty and Dr. Gard Otis it remains enriched by the incredibly strong Jayhawk tradition that you enjoyed so much as Ontario, Canada students. Dr. Paul Payne Wilmington, North Carolina Dr. Scott Porter Andover, Kansas Dr. Randy Scott Los Altos Hills, California Dr. Terry Wall Dr. Val Smith Dr. Robert Cohen, Dr. Christopher Haufler Shawnee Mission, Kansas Interim Director, Acting Chair, Interim Chair, Undergraduate Biology and Department of Molecular Department of Ecology Dr. Michael Webb Human Biology Programs Biosciences Wellesley, Maine and Evolutionary Biology 2009 Calendar • Alumni Spring Lecture – Thursday, April 16, 2009 • Alumni Board Meeting – Friday, April 17, 2009 • Recognition Ceremony – Saturday, May 16, 2009 • Commencement – Sunday, May 17, 2009 C ONTENT S D EPARTMENTAL F EATURES KU Undergraduate Biology 2 by Dr. Val Smith Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 4 by Dr. Chris Haufler Turning the light on 10 brain research Molecular Biosciences by Gene King 7 by Dr. Robert Cohen The Next Generation of Graduate 12 Students Man in Black – 16 Dr. Stuart Macdonald by Gene King Kandi White Gene King Gil Ortiz Jenna Goodman Editor, Copywriter and Co – Editor, Development Director, [email protected] Research Graphic Designer, College of Liberal Arts [email protected] Photography and Sciences Reorganization of the [email protected] [email protected] 18 Biological Sciences by Dr. Val Smith BioHawk is published annually from private funds, and produced by the Biological Sciences,1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045-7534 for Alumni and Friends. Articles may be reprinted with special permission by contacting Kandi White, telephone (785) 864-5882 or e-mail [email protected]. The University of Kansas is committed to providing programs and activities to all persons, regardless of race, religion, color, sex, disability, Entrepreneurial spirit leads to national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital or parental status and, to the extent covered by law, age or veteran status. 19 bridging business and science We would like to thank everyone who contributed to making this issue by Gene King of BioHawk a success. Without your support it would not be possible. A special thanks to all of those who contributed material and images. KUUB KU Undergraduate Biology Dr. Val Smith Interim Director, Undergraduate Biology and Human Biology Programs [email protected] “Exciting Honors and Events in Undergraduate Biology” oining the research laboratory of one of our of Kansas-Haskell Indian Nations University JBiological Sciences faculty members can be Undergraduate Research Symposium, which was one of the most rewarding experiences of our held on 29 April 2008 at the Haskell Indian Nations University campus. Almost two thirds of the 31 KUUB students’ four years at KU. Undergraduate research student participants from KU and Haskell presented provides our students with opportunities to acquire results from biological science projects completed new knowledge and skills, and provides exciting under the guidance of KU faculty mentors. This intellectual challenges that simply cannot be provided offers more exciting conference was organized by KU’s Office in the classroom environment alone. Many students of Diversity in Science Training, which focuses on become so captivated by research that they pursue four main objectives: departmental Honors, and the Biological Sciences than course hosted the 2008 Honors Research Symposium the • Train tomorrow’s scientists, who reflect the weekend just before spring Commencement. Six population diversity of the nation as a whole. graduating seniors were individually recognized by • Achieve scientific excellence by fostering a Honors Committee Chair Dr. Daphne Fautin, and diversity of perspectives and points of view. work and each gave an exciting oral presentation of their work. Working with faculty advisors Dr. Rafe Brown and • Invite students to participate in hands-on lab Dr. Linda Trueb, Kyle Hesed described his research experiences as undergraduate research scholars. research to on a mitochondria-based phylogeny of Sphenomorphus • Assign mentors who can engage students in rigorous lizards in the Philippines. scientific inquiry and reinforce successful critical In addition, Anne Vezeau discussed her under- thinking skills, and our under- graduate studies of courtship behavior by a song-less • Introduce students to biomedical research careers species of Drosophila fruit flies, which she performed by attending symposia, and by giving students the in the laboratory of Dr. Jenny Gleason. Nashenna opportunity to present their research at professional Naguib Jiwa highlighted her research on T cell events. graduates. development with Dr. Thomas Yankee at the KU Medical Center, and Elspeth Pearce spoke about her analyses of the genetics of Drosophila leg development in Dr. Rob Ward’s lab. Ryan Townley talked about his research on the house mouse behavior with Dr. Rudolf Jander, and Fikri Birey presented his comparative studies of the developmental genetic basis for bilateral flower symmetry between two model plant species (Mimulus guttatus) in the laboratory of his mentor Dr. Lena Hileman. Undergraduate research in the Biological Sciences KU - HINU Research Participants (left to right): was highlighted as well at the 8th Annual University Jason Koontz, Tennille Begay, Yvonne Kamau, Cassandra LaMar 2 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Our undergraduates also do more than coursework and research, The Class of 2008 “Favorite Professors” were John C. Brown however! An exceptional group of 134 dedicated Upperclassmen and James A. Orr. Jack Brown will be retiring soon after 34 years in the Biological Sciences assisted us during the past year as of continuous teaching and service at KU. Jim Orr is extremely Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (UTAs), both in our classrooms active as Director of KU’s Office for Diversity in Science Training, and in our teaching laboratories. For example, 31 of these UTAs which is now housed on the first floor of Haworth Hall. Comments assisted Dr. Julie Campbell in making our entry-level courses for received in support of Jack and Jim’s nominations for the Favorite non-majors (BIOL 100 and BIOL 102) and for majors (BIOL Professor award included these wonderfully glowing words from our 150/151 and BIOL 152/153) a tremendous success. These UTAs students: provide unique connections with the students whom they teach because