Applications for the BioCORE Scholars program are now open

Sep 25, 2020

The BioCORE Scholars Program is now accepting applications for students to join its fifth cohort, beginning Winter 2021 quarter. Applicants should be students who have not yet begun the General Biology sequence (BIO 2101/2102/2103). Applications are due by 3 pm on Thurs., October 29, 2020. The BioCORE Scholars Program is a leadership program to build community, promote academic success and create mentoring networks for first-generation college students and students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the biological sciences.

Brynna Hansen co-authors conference proceeding

Sep 18, 2020

Brynna Hansen, a junior BS Cellular and Molecular Biology student, recently co-authored a peer-reviewed conference proceeding, "Identifying student resources for understanding kinematics", published in Proceedings of the Physics Education Research Conference 2020. Brynna, under the supervision of Dr. Amy Robertson, Research Professor in SPU's Department of Physics, analyzed introductory physics student responses to conceptual questions, and identified some of the productive ideas that emerged from students' responses. Other co-authors include Cheyenne Broadfoot, an undergraduate student at UW-Bothell, and Dr. Lisa Goodhew, who recently joined SPU as Assistant Professor of Physics. Brynna also presented her research at the virtual American Association of Physics Teachers conference this summer. Congratulations to Brynna!

National Voter Registration Day is September 22

Sep 15, 2020

In order for our democracy to function properly, it is essential that every citizen exercise their right to vote. This year, National Voter Registration Day is Tuesday, September 22. The national website has information how to register to vote in your local elections, and how to get involved in getting out the vote other ways. The SPU Library maintains a guide to Election 2020, with links to resources on registering to vote, general information about the presidential election, and recommended readings on hot topics in this year's election.

Sarah Daman interviewed on local public radio station

Sep 1, 2020

Sarah Daman, a senior BS Ecology major, was interviewed by KNKX, a public radio station serving the Seattle - Tacoma region. Sarah spoke about her experience assembling the ribcage of a young gray whale, as a student in Dr. Peter Moe's "Whale Skeleton Articulation" course. The completed whale will be hung in the atrium of Eaton Hall. The complete interview, "How to know a whale: Students articulate skeleton at Seattle Pacific University", is available on the KNKX website.

SPU alum Haylee Yepson is now a Navy flight surgeon

Aug 27, 2020

Haylee Yepson, who graduated from SPU with a BS in Physiology in 2012, was featured in a recent Napa Valley Register article. Dr. Yepson, who earned her degree as a Doctor of Osteopathy from Truro University, is also a Lt. in the US Navy and recently completed training at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute to become a flight surgeon. She will be stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, SC. While at SPU, Dr. Yepson was also a member of the Women's Gymnastics team, and a research student in Dr. Janet Bester-Meredith's lab.

Biology Department graduates Honors Scholars

Jun 13, 2020

At a ceremony held virtually on Saturday, June 13, 2020, the SPU Honors Program recognized 18 graduating Honors Scholars, including two Biology majors. Erinn Campbell (BS Ecology and BA Self-Designed major) wrote her Honors thesis on “'The Speechmaking of a Girl-Orator': Reason, Gender, and Authority in Dorothy Hunter’s Free Trade Oratory", under the supervision of Assistent Professor of History Rebecca Hughes. Elli Fox (BS Cellular and Molecular Biology) wrote her Honors thesis on "Determining the Genetic Control of Neural Tube Malformation Through Genetic Interactions with IDGF3", under the supervision of former SPU Biology department faculty Dr. Michelle Casad. In addition to Erinn and Elli, two other Honors Scholars were supervised by Biology department faculty. Kyra Bower (BS Biochemistry), wrote her Honors thesis on "Raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) infection prevalence in geographically distinct raccoon (Procyon lotor) populations of the Pacific Northwest", under the supervision of Assistant Professor of Biology Cindy Bishop (with Professor of Biology Eric Long serving as the second reader). Meg Lunn (BS Biochemistry), wrote her Honors thesis on "The kinetic signatures of antibody binding to M. genitalium adhesin protein fragments", under the supervision of Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ben McFarland (with Associate Professor of Biology Jenny Tenlen serving as the second reader).

Erinn Campbell received the Wesley Lingren Award, the highest honor bestowed on a graduating Honors Scholar. Erinn was recognized for her outstanding research in both the sciences and humanities, and her leadership in the SPU Honors Program. Congratulations to Erinn, and to all of our Honors Scholars!

Professor Eric Long selected to give 2021 Weter Lecture

Jun 4, 2020

At the final Faculty Senate meeting of the 2019-2020 academic year, Professor of Biology Eric Long was named as the recipient of the 2021 Winifred E. Weter Faculty Award Lecture for Meritorious Scholarship. This award, named in honor of Winifred E. Weter, SPU professor emerita of classics, provides opportunities for faculty to share their scholarship around the liberal arts within a Christian university. Dr. Long's presentation, "Priests of a Fallen Creation: The Temple, Natural Theology, and Ecology in Dialogue", will be delivered in Spring 2021. Congratulations to Dr. Long!

Honoring the Biology Department Class of 2020

Jun 3, 2020

The Biology Department has established a webpage to celebrate the Class of 2020. These students are poised to make their mark on the world, as health care practitioners, educators, researchers, field biologists, writers, and in a number of other professions. The Biology faculty are very proud of all of our graduates, and we will miss their presence at SPU!

Mary Mathison co-authors article in Medium

Jun 1, 2020

Mary Mathison (BA Sociology 2017), who was an active leader in the Pre-Professional Health Sciences club and is now a medical student at the University of Washington, co-authored an article with Ernesto Ulloa on Medium. The article, "COVID-19 Has Exposed Devastating Layers of Inequality in the United States — It’s Time to Act", analyzes the inequities in housing, job and income security, and healthcare access that have been exposed by the pandemic.

Dr. Tracie Delgado serves as panelist in NIH Career Symposium

May 20, 2020

Associate Professor of Biology, Dr. Tracie Delgado, was one of four panelists who were featured in a session on faculty careers at the National Institutes of Health Career Symposium 2020 on May 8, 2020.  The event, which targeted post-baccalaeureates, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, provided information about academic pathways at a variety of institutions, including institutions with a primarily-undergraduate focus like Seattle Pacific University.  Dr. Delgado's session was recorded and is available to view.