Biological Sciences News Archives

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Biological Sciences wins COSAM Faculty-Staff Campaign Crown

The University's 2009 Faculty-Staff Campaign (designed to raise funds for University programs and inspire alumni donations) included a new competition within COSAM this year: the COSAM department with the highest participation in the Campaign would be awarded a crown by the Dean. Biological Sciences won, with 75% participation! This photo shows our department chair (Dr. Feminella) wearing the crown while working in his office. The crown will be kept by our department until next year's campaign, when it will be won by the department with highest participation in 2010.

Faculty Win Numerous Awards

Mendonca selected Alumni Professor, Leischuck Presidential Awardee

Dr. Mary Mendonça, Professor and Graduate Program Officer in the department, was selected as one of 25 Alumni Professors recognized by the AU Alumni Association for noteworthy contributions to AU’s academic program.

Dr. Mendonca was also selected as one of two Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Awardees. This award, the most prestigious on campus, recognizes exemplary contributions to Auburn's teaching program. Dr. Mendonca is the third departmental recipient of this award in the last 5 years: she joins past awardees Dr. Roland Dute and Dr. Bob Lishak.

Boyd and Janosik receive COSAM awards

Dr. Robert Boyd, Professor in the department, was selected as COSAM’s Outstanding Advisor for 2008-2009. Ms. Alexis Janosik, Ph.D. student in Dr. Ken Halanych’s lab, has been selected one of COSAM’s Outstanding GTAs for 2008-2009.

Liles and Hill receive Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award

Dr. Mark Liles, Assistant Professor, and Dr. Geoff Hill, Professor, were both selected as Outstanding Graduate Mentors for 2008-2009 by the AU Graduate School.

McVay gets SGA teaching award

Dr. Cathy McVay, Laboratory Coordinator, was named this year’s COSAM Outstanding Teacher by the AU Student Government Association (SGA).

Dute chosen AED’s professor of the year

Dr. Roland Dute, Professor, was selected as Professor of the Year by AU’s Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) chapter. The AED is an honorary society for pre-health students.

Wit gives AU’s “Final Lecture”

Dr. Larry Wit, Professor and COSAM’s Associate Dean for Instruction, was selected to give this year’s “The Final Lecture.” This event allows the Class of 2009 to recognize Dr. Wit as the professor they feel is the most outstanding teacher at Auburn University.

Feminella wins COSAM Outreach Award

Dr. Jack Feminella, Professor and Chair of the department since Fall 2008, was recipient of the 2008-2009 COSAM Dean's Outreach Award.

Graduate Students Take Home Awards

Betancur chosen AU’s Outstanding International Graduate Student

Mr. Ricardo Betancur, a PhD candidate working with Professor Jon Armbruster, was selected one of AU’s Outstanding International Graduate Students for 2008-2009.

Ligon and Du win awards at AU Graduate Student Forum

Mr. Rusty Ligon, MS student in Dr. Geoff Hill’s lab, won the first place award for oral presentations in the Science category at this spring’s AU Graduate Student Forum. Ms. Yifeng Du, PhD candidate working with Dr. Marie Wooten, won first place in the poster presentation.

Morrow receives Dean’s graduate student research award

Ms. Kathy Morrow, PhD candidate in Nanette Chadwick’s lab, won the COSAM Dean’s Graduate Student Research Award in February 2009.

Skibiel chosen as AU Outstanding Graduate Student

Ms. Amy Skibiel, PhD student working with Dr. Steve Dobson, was chosen as one of 10 Outstanding Graduate Students for 2008-2009 by the AU Graduate School.

Cofield named Outstanding GTA for Biological Sciences

Ms. Jessica Cofield, a PhD student in Dr. Sanj Suh’s lab, was selected the Department of Biological Sciences’ Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant for 2008-2009.

Okekpe wins poster award at Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology meeting

Ms. Camille Okekpe, MS student from Dr. Mary Mendonça’s lab, won the Best Student Poster award at the January 2009 meeting of the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology.

Ellis wins Best Oral Presentation Award

Ms. Ivey Ellis, MS student working with Professor Steven Kempf, won the Best Oral Presentation Award at this spring’s Gulf of Mexico Graduate Student Symposium, held at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

Drs. Mary Mendonça and Ken Halanych promoted to Full Professor

Dr. Mary Mendonça and Ken Halanych have been promoted to the rank of Full Professor, effective Fall semester 2009. Dr. Mendonça is a vertebrate reproductive endocrinologist and physiological ecologist, and was selected as the department’s Graduate Program Officer in Fall 2008. Dr. Halanych studies the systematics of marine invertebrates and is Coordinator of the department’s Marine Biology Program.