Biology Seminars for Fall 2023
September
Friday September 8, 3:00 p.m., in Life Sciences 185
Title: Faculty Lightning Talks with Dr. Liang, Dr. Craig & Dr. Sheik
Dr. Jennifer Liang: Extracellular matrix as an anchor during brain development
Dr. Cody Sheik: Charting Cyanobacteria: Navigating Minnesota's Waters for a Healthier Tomorrow
Dr. Tim Craig: Speciation and hybrid zones in a gall-inducing insect
UMD Department of Biology Faculty
Hosted by Dr. Allen Mensinger
Friday, September 15, 3:00 p.m., in Life Sciences 185
Title: Hawk Mountain’s 90 years of raptor migration monitoring: scientific value of long-term data
Dr. Laurie Goodrich, Sarkis Acopian Director of Conservation Science, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association, Orwigsburg, PA
Hosted by Dr. Allen Mensinger
Abstract: Hawk Mountain was founded in 1934 as the first sanctuary in the world set aside for birds of prey conservation. It launched a count of migrating raptors which now represents nearly 90 years of monitoring data and one of the longest datasets available on raptor numbers. In this talk we will explore some of the early scientific contributions of these data and what we can learn from long-term migration monitoring.
Link to papers:
Long-term phenological shifts in migration and breeding-area residency in eastern North American raptors
Migration counts of raptors at Hawk Mountain, PA, as indicators of population trends, 1934-1986
Friday, September 22, 3:00 p.m., in Life Sciences 185
Title: Genetic Determinism and Complex Traits
Dr. Jared Strasburg
Inspirational Teacher of the Life Sciences Awardee
Hosted by Dr. Allen Mensinger
Friday, September 29, 3:00 p.m., in Life Sciences 185 | Zoom Link
Title: Genital Coevolution in Vertebrates and the Overlooked Female
Dr. Patricia Brennan
Mount Holyoke College
Hosted by Dr. Mark Clark
Abstract: Female genitalia have been studied much less than male genitalia, and this lack of knowledge has limited our understanding of the evolution of diverse genital structures and copulatory behaviors. Dr. Brennan’s lab has been developing an integrative approach to investigate the diversity of female genitalia and how they coevolve with males in vertebrate groups including ducks, bats, dolphins, sharks, and snakes to understand which evolutionary processes influence their complex morphology and function. Her research has received press coverage in newspapers, internet videos, and podcasts, and she regularly presents her research to the general public and in academic institutions.
Link to paper: Evolution and Morphology of Genitalia in Female Amniotes
October
Friday, October 6, 3:00 p.m., in Life Sciences 185
Title: Simple Chemistry for the Discovery of Therapeutics for Cancer Treatment
Dr. Venkat Mereddy
UMD Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Hosted by Dr. Jennifer Liang
Friday, October 13, 3:00 p.m., in Life Sciences 185
Title: Soil invertebrates: Stopping pests, scarfing down plastic, and scoring points
Dr. Max Helmberger
Boston University
Hosted by Dr. Tim Craig
Friday, October 20, 3:00 p.m., in Life Sciences 185
Title: How breathing modulates brain activity and function: a neuroscientists perspective
Dr. Detlef Heck
UMD Department of Biomedical Sciences, Department Head and Professor
Hosted by Dr. Jennifer Liang
Friday, October 27 :: NO SEMINAR - Fall Break
November
Friday, November 3, 3:00 p.m., in Life Sciences 185
Title: Insights into the subsurface lifestyle from microbial extracellular enzymes
Dr. Drew Steen, Post-doctoral Associate
University of Tennessee
Hosted by Dr. Cody Sheik
Friday, November 10, 3;00 p.m, in Life Sciences 185
Title: Beyond Blood Pressure: Maternal Hypertension’s Impact on Offspring’s Immune and Neural Development
Dr. Sabrina Scroggins
UMD Department of Biomedical Sciences
Hosted by Dr. Jennifer Liang
Friday, November 17, 3:00 p.m., in Life Sciences 185
Title: Fish habitat and food webs in Minnesota’s changing freshwaters
Dr. Heidi Rantala
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Hosted by Dr. Donn Branstrator
Friday, November 24 :: NO SEMINAR - Thanksgiving Break
December
Friday, December 1, 3:00 p.m., in Life Sciences 185
Title: Graduate Student Lightning Talks
UMD Integrated Biosciences and Water Resources Graduate Students
Leah Glimsdal, Austen Hilding, Noland Michels, Emma Neidviecky, Mica Rivera, Josh Schrope, Angelica Smith, and Erika Swanson
Hosted by Dr. Allen Mensinger
Friday, December 8, 3:00 p.m., in Life Sciences 185
Title: Influence of breeding habitat type on nest success and fledgling survival of the Golden-winged Warbler
Brett Howland, UMD Integrated Biosciences Graduate Student
Hosted by Dr. Alexis Grinde, NRRI
Friday, December 8, 3:00 p.m., in Life Sciences 185
Title: Factors influencing occupancy, success, and nestling growth at American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) nest boxes in the Upper Midwest
Halle Lambeau, UMD Integrated Biosciences Graduate Student
Hosted by Dr. Matthew Etterson, EPA