Department of Biology

BIOLOGY AWARDS PICNIC 2000

The Annual Biology Department End-of-the-Year Awards picnic was held April 26 on the north lawn of the Science building. The weather was fabulous. Congratulations to our out-standing students: Emily Cornforth and John Dunn (Biol 110), Kelly Wilson (Biol 115), Benjamin Scott (Biol 302), Deanna Ward and Erica Lingle (Biol 383), Raedun Clarke (Biol 481/2), Shannon Doney (Outstanding Under-graduate) and Krystle Petersen (Outstanding Graduate Student). In addition, the department faculty awarded Sarah Danti next year's Zaebst Fellowship. This fellowship was established by the parents of Fred Zaebst in memory of Fred, a faculty member of the department. Zaebst Fellows receive $2000 and are expected to do some kind of service for the department in return for the funds.

SECOND ANNUAL BIOLOGY DEPARTMENTAL GALA

On Saturday evening, October 1999, over 65 friends, alumni, staff and faculty of the Department gathered in the Gallery for Contemporary Art for the second Dinner Gala and Fundraiser. This year marked the inauguration of the Dr. Morgan Berthrong Scholarship that was established by the Berthrong family to honor Morgan and to support a CU-Colorado Springs Biology major. Dr. Berthrong and his wife Sharon have been long-time friends and neighbors of the University. As the attendees visited and looked over auction items, Mr. Sam Bryant provided smooth piano music. Later, Sam and biology major Merri Nevers entertained us with some great tunes. There were many outstanding auction items, with the highlight being a hand-pieced and hand-stitched queen size quilt. The dinner, auction and donations totaled nearly $40,000-a great start for the Berthrong Endowed Scholarship!

CLEMENT MARKERT

It is with sadness that we note the passing of Dr. Clement Markert, a member of the LAS Science Advisory Board and a friend of the Department. Clement was an internationally renowned cell biologist and biochemist, and was a member of the US National Academy of Science. Margaret Markert donated all of Clement's books to the Department, and the Science Building conference room, which houses the collection, has been named the Clement and Margaret Markert Conference Room. Margaret has also arranged for a substantial and most generous gift to the University that will establish the Clement Markert Endowed Professorship in the Department of Biology. This will be the first endowed professorship in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences!

MEET OUR NEWEST FACULTY MEMBER, DR. M. KAREN NEWELL

The department was pleased to welcome Dr. M. Karen Newell as the newest faculty member about one year ago. Dr. Newell is an immunologist by training, earning her Ph.D in Microbiology and Immunology from CU-Health Sciences Center. She has held research associate and postdoctoral positions at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine in Denver and at McGill University in Montreal. We met Dr. Newell in 1995 when Dr. Swartzendruber was acting Dean of LAS; she taught Immunology for us as his replacement. Although Dr. Newell expressed an interest in our campus at that time, no positions were available and she accepted a position as an Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont in 1996. We are very pleased that she decided to return to CU-Colorado Springs. She is also an adjunct professor at Dartmouth Medical College and at the Webb Waring Institute in Denver. This year Dr. Newell taught Immunology (Fall 99) and Embryology/ Developmental Biology (Spring 00). Since she arrived, approximately 40 students, including those in the Embryology class, have worked on research projects in her laboratory. Dr. Newell's immunology research relies on analysis by flow cytometry. Dr. Newell's research funds, supplemented with "start-up money" from the Dean of LAS, has allowed her to purchase a new flow cytometer from the Beckman-Coulter Corporation. This instrument replaces the instrument obtained by Dr. Swartzendruber in 1982. Dr. Newell currently has research support from Immune Response Corporation (CA), Medlogic Global (Colorado Springs), NIH, and CIRB (the Colorado Institute for Research in Biotechnology).

She is assisted by her lab manager and spouse, Jeff Rogers. Jeff has been instrumental in establishing and organizing Karen's research laboratory and office. Jeff, an artist, also conceived the design for the updated departmental faculty board outside of Science 250.

BBB HONORARY BIOLOGY SOCIETY

For several years Tri-Beta has sponsored two events of interest to our students and this year was no exception. Trial interviews were held last fall. Students made interview appointments and were questioned by a panel of interviewers including Drs. Swartzendruber and Pigage and Ms. Adriana Karch from Communications. After the interview the panel members made constructive suggestions. This spring Tri-Beta co-sponsored with the Pre-Medical Society Club and Student Government, the 5th Annual Allied Health Panel. After each participating professional answered questions prepared by Paul Marasco, Tri-Beta president and moderator, the floor was opened up to student questions. On March 22, 2000, BBB inducted 21 new student members and Dr. Karen Newell. The induction ceremony was held in the UCCS Gallery of Contemporary Art and was followed by a reception. Once again, faculty supplied the food! Dr. Ron Wisner, Dean of Student Life, and Dr. Elizabeth Grobsmith, Dean of LAS, were also in attendence.

STUDENT NEWS

For the past year, Pamela Lyle, a graduating Biology major, has been conducting research in the Immunology Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. Karen Newell, Assistant Professor of Biology. She has been studying the effects of colloidal silver on the B16.F1 melanoma cell line. For several years, the Council on Undergraduate Research (Drs. Berry-Lowe, Newell, and Schoffstall are members) has sponsored an event in Washington, DC, called "Posters on Capital Hill". The purpose of this session is to relay the importance of federal funding for undergraduate research programs to members of Congress. Pam was one of two Colorado students chosen to present her research at the Capital. She used this opportunity to visit the offices of the Colorado Congressmen to discuss the importance of increased appropriations to NSF and NIH for funding of undergraduate research programs. Dr. Karen Newell, the UCCS chapter of Tri-Beta, and the Biology Department, sponsored Pam's trip. Funding for the research was provided by the CIRB.

A grant awarded to Drs. Berning, Berry-Lowe and Pyati last year from the CU President's Fund for the Recruitment and Retention of Minority and Women Faculty was used to send three students to national meetings. Dr. Berning and Donna Chuba (MBS, 2000) attended the American Dietitic Association's Annual meeting and Sue Jones attended the North American Lake Management Society Symposium.

Graduate students now have a study room of their own-Science143.

EQUIPMENT DONATIONS AND GRANT FUNDING ARE UP

Drs. Berry-Lowe and Swartzendruber were successful in obtaining a DU-7500 spectro-photometer valued at $32,000 from the Beckman-Coulter Corporation Contributions Committee. This instrument is currently being used for research and in student laboratories in both the Biology and Chemistry departments. Thank you to Mr. Dean Watts, our local Beckman-Coulter sales representative and CU-Colorado Springs graduate! (See top photo: Dr. Swartzendruber and Mr. Dean Watts congratu-lating each other.)

Drs. Guerra and Swartzendruber were successful in obtaining a $250,000 ion trap LC-MS system from Agilent Technologies (the new off-shoot from Hewlett-Packard). The instrument will be used in Dr. Guerra's research and in the biochemistry laboratory course. It is to be installed in June.

Jeff Rogers and Karen Newell have been quite successful in obtaining used equipment from National Jewish in Denver. Donations have included animal cages and several laminar flow, HEPA-filter, tissue culture hoods, valued at over $50,000. A thank-you reception for National Jewish is being planned for early summer.

The Department is in the third year of a $60,000 project of incorporating technology into the Biology curriculum. Dr. Swartzendruber is directing the project. This year a digital camera for use by faculty for web design and documentation of lab exercises, and 6 lap tops have been purchased for student use in labs.

FACULTY NEWS

Even while on sabbatical this spring, Dr. Jim Mattoon served on two campus committees, was involved with the Microbrewery Symposium, and advised three undergraduate research projects and two MBS students. All this and he also 'fit in' a scientific trip to Brazil and Argentina. Dr. Mattoon also volunteered to be the new MBS Program Director. The MBS program is a Masters Degree program involving several departments within the College of LAS, including Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Math and Physics. Dr. Mattoon is being assisted two days per week by Margaret Hensley. Margaret usually can be found in Science 250 or 148.

Dr. Edmund Burke published two reports in Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise on follow-up research conducted for the 1996 Olympic Games on the aerodynamics and power requirements of track cyclists. He also published two books, Optimal Muscle Recovery and Avery's Sports Nutrition Almanac. More information on these publications can be found through Ed's web site: www.optimalmuscle-recovery.com. (no dashes!). Ed has continued to write weekly or monthly columns for The Gazette (the local Colorado Springs newspaper), Velonews, Physical Magazine, and two websites: athletesvillage.com and efit.com. In addition, Ed has supervised the research of three MBS students. Finally, Ed has continued his comeback as an Adult Onset Athlete, by competing in the Triple Bypass (a 122 mile ride over three Colorado mountain passes), the 100-Off-Road Leadville Trail 100 Bicycle Race, and in the Solo Division of the 24 Hours of Moab, in Moab, Utah. Way to go Ed! On a similar note, Dr. Douglas Swartzendruber successfully completed the Pikes Peak Marathon last August.

MICROBREWERY NEWS

The Fifth Annual Rocky Mountain Microbrewing Symposium was held on February 18, 2000. It was sponsored by the Biology Department, Biotechnology Center, and Brewing-Science Inc. Both technical and business sessions were included. The symposium was attended by 100 registered guests. Several of the brewers were interviewed for the evening news during the beer tasting event.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STUDENTS IN THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS!!!

Shannon Doney-Graduate School, CSU

Ken Frey-Graduate School, Wright State U

Eric Gessner-Podiatric Medicine, DesMoines U

Toby Genrich-Medical School

Jennifer Jones-Medical School

Brock Lawrence-Chiropractic School

Bryce Lawrence-Dental School, CU

Tim Pickering-Medical School, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Benjamin Scott-Medical School, Columbia U

Elric Vindrathax-Chiropractic School

Graduating students can expect a campus questionnaire within the next 18 months. It will include a Biology Department survey. Even if you don't fill out the campus survey, please fill out and return the Biology survey.

KEEP IN TOUCH!

We would like to hear from you-any updates, additions, or corrections. Please contact Dr. Berry-Lowe by email or snail mail. In addition, if you would like to post your where-abouts to fellow students, or update them on your activities, let us know and we will publish it here and on our web page.

1999 DONORS TO THE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT-THANKS!!!

Holly A. Bell; Richard & Liz Berry; Laurel L. Butts; Timothy J. Carlsen; Denise A. Greathouse; Marion A. Gustafson; Cynthia J.N. Kitners; Virginia F. Ruppi; Roselyn V. Stickler;Edward & Mary Swartzendruber

DONORS TO THE BETHRONG FUND

Helen & Jon Pigage; John Pierce; Pamela Shockley; Sue & Robert Anderson; Jerry Dunbar; Mary & Terry O'Rourke; G. Barry Pierce; Martha & Jim Mattoon; James Daly; Robert Dillon; Ed Burke; Mary Ellen & Milton Wiggins; David Huffman; Jill & David Morin; Raphael Sassower; Sandy & Luis Lowe; Sue Jones; Graeme Badger; Mary Ellen & Mike McNally; Rhonda & Douglas Swartzendruber; Mary & Edward Swartzendruber; Barbara & Larry Gaddis; Jackie & Bruce Berning; The Guerra Family; Sally & Hans Much; M. Karen Newell & Jeff Rogers; Sue & Paul Marasco; Chancellor Bunnell-Shade;Zoya Dickins Miller; Jane & Ron Wisner; Missye Bonds; Richard Richards; Dean Watts; Summer & Tobias Kircher; Naeda & Robert Wardwell; Barry Lawshe; Roth Hyland; Liz Berthrong; Shirley Kircher; Paul Bame; George Bajszar; Gail & L. James Kennedy; Giles Toll; Donna Mumma; Christopher Bartlett; Mary & S.D. Peck; Janet Stephens; Karen & W.C. Dickey; Gina Garcia; John Borja; Gerry Riggs; Kathryn & Wilbur Franklin; Maxine & Robert 'Hank' Fennell; Wendell Speers; Judy & James McQuaid; Saundra & Richard Stienmier; Cindy & James Warren; Elain & Steven Wagner; Denise & Ernst Sartorio; Eileen Nobles; Gordon Webb; CU Bookstore; The Broadmoor Hotel; Pankratz Gallery; Tri-Beta Honor Society; Dr. Canfield & Benzinger, PC; The Colorado Trust.

FACULTY

Dr. Jackie Berning; jberning@mail.uccs.edu

Dr. Sandra Berry-Lowe; slblowe@mail.uccs.

Dr. Edmund Burke; eburke@sportscience.com

Dr. Daniel Guerra; dguerra@mail.uccs.edu

Dr. James Mattoon;jmattoon@mail.uccs.edu

Ms. Jill Morin; jjmorin@mail.uccs.edu

Dr. Karen Newell; mnewell@mail.uccs.edu

Dr. Jon Pigage; jpigage@mail.uccs.edu

Dr. Douglas Swartzendruber; dswartze@mail.uccs.edu