Biology Faculty in the News
Dr. Frydman featured in BU's Research publication
Apr 29, 2013
Dr. Horácio Frydman was featured in BU's most recent edition (2012) of Research - a publication that highlights current cutting edge research being performed on campus. In the article, "An Unlikely Ally by Kevin Jiang, Dr. Frydman's study of the Wolbachia bacteria is explained. This research will help scientists understand new strategies for preventing the spread of diseases like malaria, West Nile, and dengue fever.
Caroline Polgar (GRS '12) mentioned in Boston Globe
Apr 12, 2013
Recent Ph.D. recipient, Dr. Caroline Polgar (GRS '12) was recently interviewed, along with her past advisor, Dr. Richard Primack, for an article on Henry Thoreau and climate change in the March 10, 2013 edition of the Boston Globe. Drs. Polgar and Primack's research on early bloom times highlighted in the article, "Thoreau, viewed as a scientist" by Kathleen Burge. The article also discusses the opening of a new exhibition at the Concord Museum exhibit, ?Early Spring: Henry Thoreau and Climate Change,? which examines Thoreau as scientist.
Prof. Naya's Research Highlighted in Development
Apr 09, 2013
Prof. Naya's research was recently highlighted in the January 2013 issue of Development. His research on the role transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) plays in skeletal muscle regeneration of adult mice is reviewed.
Prof. Ulla Hansen wins Ignition Award
Mar 26, 2013
Prof. Ulla Hansen, along with chemistry professor and co-inventor, Scott Schaus, have received an Ignition Award to develop a small molecule chemotherapeutic for the effective treatment of primary liver cancer. Boston University?s competitive Ignition Award Program funds faculty to advance their research toward commercialization (e.g., licensing, startup companies). Liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the fifth most common cancer worldwide (approximately 1 million new cases each year) and the third largest cause of deaths (600,000 deaths each year). Due to metabolic syndrome and hepatitis, the incidence of liver cancer is increasing and there are few therapeutic options. Currently there is only one FDA-approved drug (Nexavar) that can enhance lifespan by only 3 months, with significant negative side effects. The BU research team has shown that transcription factor Late SV40 (LSF) is an oncogene for HCC, highly expressed in patient tumors, driving both tumor growth and metastasis. Their work has demonstrated that LSF inhibitors cause rapid death of HCC cells in vitro and that these inhibitors stop HCC growth in vivo (mouse models). There is a remarkable lack of side effects/toxicity in the mouse models. With the Ignition Award, they will perform a detailed toxicological assessment of compounds; assess the pharmacokinetic and oral availability; and determine the LSF biological targets that lead to cell death in HCC upon treatment with inhibitors. Through licensing, they anticipate that they will be able to develop new small molecule LSF inhibitors and a biomarker for early stage disease.
Dr. Warkentin's research highlighted in the Smithsonian
Dec 20, 2012
Dr. Karen Warkentin's research on the red-eyed treefrog was recently highlighted in the Smithsonian magazine. In the article, "How the Treefrog Has Redefined Our View of Biology," Dr. Warkentin explains how the frog egg?s surprising responsiveness epitomizes a revolutionary concept in biology called phenotypic plasticity, which is the flexibility an organism shows in translating its genes into physical features and actions.
Dr. Segre's research highlighted on the ENG website
Nov 20, 2012
Dr. Daniel Segre's research was recently highlighted on the Engineering and Bioinformatics websites in and article entitled, "New research could help trace source of bioterror agents." Dr. Segre, along with colleague Yannis Paschalidis and others from Harvard and University of Texas seeks to establish clear links between bacterial cells? growth conditions and their resulting composition by developing and testing advanced mathematical methods which could lead to new ways to track the source of a bacterial pathogen, and to help discriminate between natural infectious outbreaks and the deliberate spread of pathogens.
Prof. Pam Templer co-authors article in Boston Globe
Oct 17, 2012
Prof. Pam Templer co-authored an article on climate change with David Sleeper for the Boston Sunday Globe Magazine. The article, entitled, "A climate change call to arms," warns that while this year's winter weather predictions call for more snow, we should not be fooled. Indeed, Prof. Templer's research shows that both the local and global temperatures are rising.
Dr. Mullen's Research featured in Science Daily
May 17, 2012
Assistant Professor Sean Mullen's genome research featured in Science Daily. Dr. Mullen, has discovered promiscuous sharing of large regions of DNA code among species by sequencing the genome of a South American butterfly. A first for science, the genome sequencing work is the product of an international group of researchers, dubbed the Heliconius Genome Consortium, who examined the genome of the Postman butterfly (Heliconius melpomene), a well-known species that lives in the Peruvian Amazon. Using that data as a guide, they then examined the genetic make-up of two other closely-related butterfly species -- Heliconius timareta and Heliconius elevatus.
Prof. Primack and Alum Miller-Rushing in NY Times
Apr 19, 2012
Prof. Richard Primack and former doctoral student, Dr. Abe Miller-Rushing published an article, "Early Bloomers", in the April 18, 2012 edition of the New York Times. Using the detailed journals of Henry David Thoreau, Drs. Primack and Miller-Rushing were able to chart the trend towards earlier blooms and concluded that spring is indeed arriving earlier than in years past.
Undergraduate Gordon Towne's research on BU Today.
Apr 17, 2012
Undergrad Gordon Towne's UROP-funded research was recently featured on BU Today. Gordon has been working with Dr. Tom Kunz on his project to map the flight patterns of bats. This research is benefitting multiple disciplines including biology, engineering and could lead to the creation of new unmanned military planes. In the article, "Inquiring Minds: Tracking Bats", Gordon discusses how the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) funded his travel to Texas to help Dr. Kunz with this project. Please click on the video below to learn more about Gordon's research.
Dr. Hansen's research featured on BU Today.
Apr 12, 2012
Dr. Ulla Hansen's research on liver cancer was recently featured on BU Today. The article, "Taking On Cancer: Tackling Liver Cancer in the Lab" discusses Dr. Hansen's discovery that the same protein, transcription factor LSF, also referred to as late SV40 factor, appears to play a role in the growth of liver cancers. Understanding that role could be the key to a treatment for the deadly disease.
Dr. Buston's research on cover of Proc. R. Soc. B
Apr 05, 2012
Dr. Pete Buston's research was featured on the May 22, 2012 cover of Proceedings of the Royal Society. In the article entitled, "Probability of successful larval dispersal declines fivefold over 1 km in a coral reef fish" Dr. Buston and collaborators address a fundamental question of marine ecology: how far do larvae disperse? The cover photograph shows a clown anemonefish as it takes shelter in an anemone on the wall of a lagoon adjacent to Kimbe Island, Papua New Guinea.
Dr. Templer's Research featured on BU Today
Mar 29, 2012
Assistant Professor, Pam Templer's research on the impact of snow-challenged winters was featured on BU Today's website. Now in the fourth year of field studies at experimental forests in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Dr. Templer is studying the way shrinking snow cover?consider this year?s nearly snowless winter?affects the robustness and future of New England forests.
Dr. Buston's research featured in Bostonia Magazine
Jan 27, 2012
Dr. Peter Buston's research on clownfish was recently featured in Bostonia Magazine. The article entitled, "Excellent Swimmer, Great Personality" explains how Dr. Buston's research has shown that the clownfish show both distinct and consistent behavior.
Dr. Kaufman Awarded Top Conservation Honor
Jan 27, 2012
Dr. Les Kaufman received the Parker/Gentry Award from the Field Museum in Chicago December 1, 2011 reports Bostonia Magazine. This is one of the highest honors given for work in conservation. The award, given annually since 1996, honors an individual, team, or organization whose efforts have impacted conservation and serve as a model for others.
Dr. Buston's research highlighted on BU Today
Nov 30, 2011
Dr. Pete Buston's research on clown fish was recently highlighted on BU Today. Dr. Buston and his students have observed that there are distinct personalities amongst these attractive fish. Dr. Buston's lab has discovered that particular traits among the fish are consistent. Some clown fish are more social than others and can be observed exploring further away from their protective homes than others in their group. Why a variety of personalities in a single species is maintained by natural selection is one of the questions the Buston lab continues to explore.
Dr. Frydman's research featured Internationally.
Oct 21, 2011
Dr. Horacio Frydman lab's research on how the Wolbachia bacteria manipulates insect reproduction was published ahead of print in the journal, Science, and later picked up by the popular press on both national and international levels, including USA Today, The Scientist, BioTechniques, Le Nouvel Observateur (French journal), the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Russian International News Agency, and Spectrum (German news service) and Galileo (Italian science news journal). Assistant Professor Horacio Frydman, graduate student Eva Fast and colleagues have provided new clues to the mystery as to how the bacteria interfere with their hosts. This new knowledge may prove helpful in tackling human diseases that are carried by insects and parasitic worms.
Dr. Primack's research highlighted on BU Today and NPR
Oct 18, 2011
Dr. Richard Primack's research was highlighted on the BU Today website in the article, "Watching Climate Change from the Grounds and the Heavens" and on National Public Radio's show Here and Now. Along with his graduate student, Caroline Polgar, Dr. Primack describes how they use remote sensing, data collected from the Boston Area Climate Experiment, and historical information, including old photographs and the detailed journals of Henry David Thoreau, to observe climate change. From these sources, they are able to determine that spring leafing-out occurs on average 17 days earlier today than it did in Thoreau's time.
A short video by (below), was included on the BU Today website.
Dr. Kunz honored by The Wildlife Society for his new book
Aug 26, 2011
Dr. Tom Kunz was recently notified that The Wildlife Society has awarded him (along with his co-editor Stuart Parsons) The Outstanding Edited Book Award for his book entitled "Ecological and Behavioral Methods for the Study of Bats" (Johns Hopkins University Press, Balitomore, 2009). Drs. Kunz and Parsons will be presented their award at the society's annual meeting in Kona, Hawaii on November, 6, 2011.
Dr. Primack honored by Society for Conservation Biology
Aug 01, 2011
Dr. Richard Primack has been selected by the Society of Conservation Biology as the recipient of this year's Distinguished Service Award for his extraordinary contribution to conservation education worldwide through 27 translations of his conservation biology textbooks. In these books, examples from each country are added in by local co-authors.
Dr. Warkentin's research featured on journal's cover
Jul 06, 2011
Dr. Karen Warkentin's research was the featured in the July 2011 issue of Integrative & Comparative Biology. Her photograph of tadpoles (early & late-hatched red-eyed treefrogs) grace the cover. Also included are the papers from the "Environmentally Cued Hatching Across Taxa" symposium that Dr. Warkentin and two of her colleagues organized for the January 2011 SICB meetings.
Dr. Man's research highlighted in Science
May 02, 2011
Dr. Hengye Man and his graduate student, Stephen Amato, together with colleagues from the Harvard and Yale medical schools, published a paper in Science demonstrating a critical role of the energy sensing pathway in the development of dendritic vs axonal polarity of neurons. This work describes a fundamental process in the development of mammalian nervous system.
Dr. Mullen's research featured in BU Today
Mar 07, 2011
Dr. Sean Mullen's research on the genetic basis of coloration in butterfly wings. has been featured in the BU Today article, "The Secrets of Butterfly Wings." Dr. Mullen, along with Harvard University evolutionary biologist Marcus Kronforst, were awarded a $980,000 grant from the National Science Foundation in November 2010 to unlock the genetic mysteries of diversity. While focusing on why one species of butterfly evolved to have a similar apprearance as a poisonous one, their research can have far reaching implications in the understanding of larger issues such as the process of natural selection and genetic disease.
Dr. Tom Kunz named Distinguished Professor
Mar 04, 2011
Dr. Tom Kunz has been named a William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor. This is the highest honor bestowed by Boston University to recognize the contributions of our most valued faculty members in research, scholarship and teaching. Clearly a well-deserved recognition of Dr. Kunz's leadership and many accomplishments both at Boston University and as one of the world's leading authorities on the evolution, ecology, and behavior of bats. Read more about Dr. Kunz's latest accomplishment on BU Today.
Dr. Gilmore Leads Renewal of Beckman Scholars Program
Mar 02, 2011
Dr. Tom Gilmore, Professor of Biology and Director of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), was Principal Investigator on a Beckman Scholars Program grant funded for the next three years by the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation as of June 2011. This is one of the most highly coveted and competitive awards for undergraduate research in the US: the Beckman Foundation invited ~140 schools to apply and funded 9 applications. Notably, this is the fifth time that BU has received this prestigious award. The award will provide two summers and two academic years of support for 6 Biology, BMB or BME students to perform research with one of 15 faculty from Biology, Chemistry or BME. All of these faculty have distinguished themselves as mentors of undergraduate research. Comments Gilmore, "This grant provides early-stage and sustained research support for some of our best undergraduate researchers; it has served as a stepping-stone for entrance to top-tier PhD programs for several students over the past decade or so."
Dr. Kunz's research featured on over 75 news outlets
Mar 01, 2011
Dr. Tom Kunz and his former post-doc Dr. Winifred Frick's research on aeroecology was recently featured on over 75 news outlets, blogs and websites, including the BBC, BU Today, Surveillance Of the Aerosphere Using Weather Radar, and Voice of America. Drs. Kunz and Frick took part in a panel discussion at the recent AAAS conference where many reporters were on hand to hear about their advances.
Aeroecology, or the study of birds, bats and flying insects could transform the use of technology designed for tracking storms. For more information, visit the Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology's website. To view a video clip of Dr. Kunz's research, go to the CAS website.
Drs. Finnerty & Gilmore's research featured in MCB journal
Feb 10, 2011
Research led by Biology PhD student Francis Wolenski
Research led by Biology PhD student Francis Wolenski is featured on the cover of the March, 2011 issue of the journal, Molecular and Cellular Biology. This paper is the product of an ongoing NSF-funded collaborative project between the labs of Drs. John Finnerty and Tom Gilmore. In this paper, the authors describe for the first time the molecular components of the NF-kB signaling pathway in a simple marine organism, the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. These results have interesting evolutionary implications, as the NF-kB pathway is important in humans for proper immune responses and is misregulated in many cancers. Also contributing to the paper were postdoctoral fellow Michael Garbati, PhD students Tristan Lubinski, Nikki Traylor-Knowles, Derek Stefanik and undergraduates Erica Dresselhaus and Haley Goucher. In addition to NSF, funding for this project came from NIH, Conservation International, the Warren-McLeod Fellowship Program, New England Biolabs and the BU Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).
Dr. Finzi's research featured in Bostonia
Oct 06, 2010
Michael Sorenson named Chair of Biology
Jul 15, 2010
Prof. Michael Sorenson has accepted the position of Chair of the Biology Department effective 1 June 2010. He replaces Prof. Cooper who is now an Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences. Prof. Sorenson received his PhD from the University of Minnesota in 1990 and came to Boston University in 1998. He has taught Introductory Biology, Behavioral Ecology, Population Genetics, and Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. His research focuses on the evolutionary ecology of brood parasitic birds.
Geof Cooper appointed Associate Dean
Jul 15, 2010
After serving the Biology Department as Chair for 13 years, Prof. Geof Cooper has accepted the position of Associate Dean of the Faculty for the Natural Sciences. Dean Sapiro thanked Prof. Cooper for his years of dedicated service and noted that he will be “moving to service on a broader scope across the sciences.” Prof. Cooper stated in his announcement to the Biology faculty, “I have greatly enjoyed working with you as chair, and look forward to continuing to work with you both in my new post and as your colleague.”
Gary Jacobson Retires After 31 Years of Service
Jul 15, 2010
Professor Gary Jacobson retires after 31 years at BU Dept of Biology. Professor Gary Jacobson received his PhD from Stanford University in 1974 and began his career at Boston University in 1979. His research focused on bacterial biochemistry and physiology. Dr. Jacobson founded the BMB/MCBB program, one of the first interdisciplinary programs in the sciences, and served in various leadership roles, including Associate Chair, Chair ad interim, and Director of the Biology Department.
National attention for Red-Eyed Treefrog Research
May 24, 2010
Dr. Karen Warkentin and recent graduate, Dr. Michael Caldwell, have received national attention for their research on the vibration behavior of the red-eyed treefrog. Dr. Caldwell conducted his dissertation work on the red-eyed treefrog (Agalychnis callidryas) in Dr. Warkentin's lab and studied how frogs use vibrational information for predator avoidance and communication. Their research was recently highlighted in National Geographic, Science Now, Discover Magazine, Live Science, The New York Times, and NPR's Science Fridays. Additionally, their research was featured on the cover of the June 2010 edition of Current Biology.
Dr. Karen Warkentin's photo selected as cover art for textbook
Apr 27, 2010
Dr. Karen Warkentin provided the image that is on the cover of the newest edition of Developmental Biology, by Scott F. Gilbert, a reference text-book for teaching developmental biology, published by Sinauer Associates.
Dr. Kunz's research reaches national audience
Sep 08, 2009
Dr. Tom Kunz's research on white-nose syndrome reached a national audience when it was featured on the CBS Evening News on September 7, 2009. The U.S. bat population is declining at a frightening rate due to the fungus and Daniel Sieberg's report featured Dr. Kunz and other researchers who are struggling to solve this devastating mystery. In addition to being featured on the Evening News, Dr. Kunz's research was highlighted on the CBS News website and on BU Today. Continued attention on this ecologically important crisis will hopefully aid in discovering a way to stop the fungus that is killing off the bat population at an alarming rate.
Dr. Kaufman receives Partners in Conservation Award.
Aug 31, 2009
Congratulations to Dr. Les Kaufman and his team who were recently honored for their work on the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Dr. Kaufman's Long-Term Monitoring Program has received a Partners in Conservation award from the Department of the Interior. The award recognizes the team's work over several years monitoring coral reef health in the Flower Gardens Banks National Marine Sanctuary. In presenting the award, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar noted that it was a testament to the work of Les' team that "the Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf of Mexico are among the healthiest reefs not only in the Western Hemisphere, but in the world."
Dr. Sorenson, Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union
Aug 19, 2009
Dr. Mike Sorenson was recently made a Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union at the annual conference in Philadelphia. Fellows are be chosen for exceptional and sustained contributions to ornithology and/or service to the Union.
Dr. Kunz addresses Congress on White-nose Syndrome
Jul 21, 2009
Dr. Tom Kunz recently testified at a Joint House Subcommitte of Congress on White-Nose Syndrome in bats He also was a guest on 'Voice of America' in June to discuss the spread of this devastating disease. For more information on White-Nose Syndrome, view the short video on Dr. Kunz's research which aired on both the Voice of America website and YouTube.
Dr. Gilmore wins the 2009 Metcalf Cup and Prize
May 01, 2009
Congratulations to Dr. Tom Gilmore, recipient of the 2009 Metcalf Cup and Prize for teaching excellence. For more about Dr. Gilmore and his enthusiasm for teaching, read the BU Today article, "Making Molecular Biology Less Scary."
Dr. Warkentin's research featured on NSF website
Feb 06, 2009
Dr. Warkentin's research featured on the National Science Foundation's website in an article entiteld Vibrational Cues for Embryos.
Dr. Segre's research featured in Journal of Bacteriology
Dec 12, 2008
Dr. Daniel Segrè's research was featured on the January 2009 cover of the Journal of Bacteriology. The paper that is the result of a collaboration between Dr. Segre's lab and the lab of Salomon Amar, from the BU School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Karen Warkentin?s research highlghted in the Boston Globe
Nov 24, 2008
Dr. Karen Warkentin's research on tree frogs was highlighted in the Nov. 24, 2008 edition of the Boston Globe. In "Fear and Loathing in the Tropics: Frogs Adapt to Survive", Dr. Warkentin's discusses on how tree frogs have developed in response to their environments and learned to adapt to difficult conditions.
Prof. Kunz's research featured on the NSF website
Nov 17, 2008
Prof. Tom Kunz's bat research was recently highlighted in the National Science Foundations's web blog. Gwen Morgan, one of the media specialists at NSF, posted a blog, "Placing a Dollar Value on Services Provided by Bats," that summarizes Prof. Kunz's ongoing NSF-funded research.
Prof. Kunz's research highlighted on the NSF website
Oct 30, 2008
Prof. Kunz's bat research was recently highlighted on the NSF website. On the Oct. 28 blog entitled, "'Gone Bats' Over Aeroecology", Prof. Kunz's research is discussed and specifically, how the study of bat behavior contributes to the field of Aeroecology: how and why airborne organisms--bats, birds, arthropods and microbes--depend on the support of the atmosphere closest to Earth's surface.
Prof. Kunz's research featured on National Public Radio
Oct 28, 2008
Prof. Tom Kunz was featured on NPR's Living On Earthradio show recently. Accompanied by host Bruce Gellerman, Prof. Kunz went into a local bat cave to try and solve the mystery of the a recent die-off in bat population. In the segment entitled, "Fly-by-night Murder Mystery", Prof. Kunz discusses the new fungus that may be behind the drop in population. You can listen to the radio segment at NPR's website.
Prof. Primack's research highlighted in NY Times
Oct 28, 2008
Prof. Richard Primack's research was recently highlighted in both the NY Times and The Boston Globe. In both "Thoreau Is Rediscovered as a Climatologist" and "Troubling Toll in Thoreau's Backyard", respecitively, Prof. Primack discusses how Henry David Thoreau's original observations can be used to track changes in the global climate.
Prof. Les Kaufman's research featured in Bostonia
Oct 20, 2008
Prof. Les Kaufman's research has helped shape the draft of a five-year management plan for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, one of the most important fishing areas in the North Atlantic. In the article, Gone Fishing, Prof Kaufman weighs in on the future of this vital resource. Read more and view a video interview with Prof. Kaufman on the Bostonia website.
Dr. Finnerty featured in BU Today
Sep 12, 2008
BU Today highlights Dr. John Finnerty's research; The tiny sea anemone from the salt marshes of New England reveal some of the secrets of evolution. Read more about the Finnerty lab's research in The Sea Anemone's Secret of Evolution.
Prof. Kunz is made honorary member of the ASM
Aug 22, 2008
Congratulations to Prof. Tom Kunz, who was elected as an Honorary Member of the American Society of Mammalogists in August 2008. This is the highest award given by the Society and recognizes Tom's many distinguished contributions to mammalogy.
Prof. Kunz highlighted in The Boston Globe
Aug 21, 2008
Prof. Tom Kunz's research was recently featured in The Boston Globe on August 18,2008 in an article entitled, "Look up, he says, where bats live."
Prof. Primack awarded Guggenheim Fellowship
May 01, 2008
Professor Richard Primack has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to study "Climate change in Thoreau's Concord." His research was recently featured on the New York Times website. Dr. Primack spoke in April to the University in a lecture entitled, What Would Thoreau Think? Global Warming at Walden Pond. His research was also highlighted in an article in the Smithsonian and National Wildlife magazines.
Prof. Les Kaufman featured in the BU Today
Mar 14, 2008
Prof. Les Kaufman's research on the fish population of Lake Victoria was featured in the BU Today article, Nightmare of Global Proportions.
Prof. Michael Baum featured in BU Today
Feb 14, 2008
Prof. Michael Baum's research was featured in a BU Today article entitled Scents and Sensibility. Professors Michael Baum and James Cherry have found new links between scent and sexual attraction, which may bolster the case for human pheromones.
In Memorium: Professor Mary S. Erskine
Jan 23, 2008
On January 14, 2008 the Boston University community remembered their friend and colleague, Mary S. Erskine, who died on December 12, 2007, following a long battle with breast cancer. She was 61 years old. Mary was both a College of Arts and Sciences professor of biology and former director of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). For more information, please read the profile on BU Today.
Sir Hans Kornberg Honored
Jan 19, 2008
Sir Hans Kornberg was honored at a symposium at Boston University on January 19, 2008. The speakers included: Antonio M. Gotto Jr. (Professor of Medicine and Dean, Weill Medical School Cornell University), Peter J. F. Henderson (Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds), H. Ronald Kaback (Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles), William Kay (Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry, University of Victoria, President and CEO, Microtek), Antonio H. Romano (Professor Emeritus of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Dean Emeritus, University of Connecticut), William Whelan (Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine), Christopher Lourenco (Graduate Student, Boston University), and Andrew Sproul (Graduate Student, Columbia University).
Prof. Traniello Research mentioned in Bostonia
Nov 01, 2007
Prof. James Traniello's research and NSF grant award was featured in the Fall 2007 issue of Bostonia, Notes from Underground.
Dr. Warkentin featured in National Geographic
Dec 08, 2006
Dr. Karen Warkentin's research on the red-eyed tree frog was featured in the November 2006 issue of National Geographic magazine and also in the USA Today article, Science snapshot: Frog eggs tuned to bad vibrations.
Prof. Kunz Research Highlighted in Globe, BU Today, NYT
Jul 16, 2006
Prof. Tom Kunz's research on bat ecology was featured in an article entitled "Going Batty" in the July 16 issue of The Boston Globe magazine. His research was also featured in the January 22, 2008 issue of BU Today and in an article in the New York Times on March 25, 2008 and in the May 4th edition of the Boston Globe.
Dr. Wachowiak featured in the Globe
Mar 22, 2006
Dr. Matt Wachowiak's research on how the nervous system processes information about odors was featured in the May 22, 2006 issue of The Boston Globe: How the nose knows.
Faculty Awards
Dr. Richard Primack has been selected by the Society of Conservation Biology as the recipient of this year's Distinguished Service Award for his extraordinary contribution to conservation education worldwide through 27 translations of his conservation biology textbooks. In these books, examples from each country are added in by local co-authors.
Congratulations to Dr. Tom Gilmore, recipient of the 2009 Metcalf Cup and Prize for teaching excellence. For more about Dr. Gilmore and his enthusiasm for teaching, read the BU Today article, "Making Molecular Biology Less Scary."
- Congratulations to Prof. Tom Kunz, who was elected as an Honorary Member of the American Society of Mammalogists in August 2008. This is the highest award given by the Society and recognizes Tom's many distinguished contributions to mammalogy.
- Prof. Vince Dionne was awarded the College of Arts and Sciences Prize for Excellence in Student Advising.
- Prof. Eric Widmaier wins Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching in May 2007.
- Dr. John Finnerty was awarded the College of Arts Sciences 2006 Gitner Award for Distinguished Teaching.
- Prof. Stjepko Golubic was co-author on a paper in Coral Reefs that received the journal's 2005 Best Paper Award.
Recent Faculty Publications
Dr. Buston's research on cover of Proc. R. Soc. B
Apr 05, 2012
Dr. Pete Buston's research was featured on the May 22, 2012 cover of Proceedings of the Royal Society. In the article entitled, "Probability of successful larval dispersal declines fivefold over 1 km in a coral reef fish" Dr. Buston and collaborators address a fundamental question of marine ecology: how far do larvae disperse? The cover photograph shows a clown anemonefish as it takes shelter in an anemone on the wall of a lagoon adjacent to Kimbe Island, Papua New Guinea.
Dr. Warkentin's research featured on journal's cover
Jul 06, 2011
Dr. Karen Warkentin's research was the featured in the July 2011 issue of Integrative & Comparative Biology. Her photograph of tadpoles (early & late-hatched red-eyed treefrogs) grace the cover. Also included are the papers from the "Environmentally Cued Hatching Across Taxa" symposium that Dr. Warkentin and two of her colleagues organized for the January 2011 SICB meetings.
Dr. Man's research highlighted in Science
May 02, 2011
Dr. Hengye Man and his graduate student, Stephen Amato, together with colleagues from the Harvard and Yale medical schools, published a paper in Science demonstrating a critical role of the energy sensing pathway in the development of dendritic vs axonal polarity of neurons. This work describes a fundamental process in the development of mammalian nervous system.
Ryder and Mertl's research published in PLos One.
Dec 13, 2010
Alumni, Drs. Kari Ryder Wilkie and Amy Mertl, along with Prof. James Traniello, reported in PLoS One on the results of the first inventory of the ants of Tiputini. Identifying 489 species in only 0.16 square kilometers and projecting actual richness to be 647-736 species, this region of western Amazonia appears to support the most diverse ant fauna yet recorded.
Dr. Templer's research featured in Ecosystems.
Nov 15, 2010
Dr. Pam Templer's research was recently featured in Ecosystems. The article, entitled, "Effects of the hemlock woolly adelgid on nitrogen losses from urban and rural northern forest ecosystems ," summarizes her research on the fluxes of nitrogen in both the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, MA and a rural forest at Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA.
Post doc and Graduate Student publish in Science
Sep 15, 2010
Postdoc Winifred Frick and graduate student Kate Langwig, both members of Dr. Tom Kunz's laboratory, contributed to a recent article published in Science. Their research on white nose syndrome in bats was featured in Science's August 6, 2010 edition.
Dr. Karen Warkentin's photo selected as cover art for textbook
Apr 27, 2010
Dr. Karen Warkentin provided the image that is on the cover of the newest edition of Developmental Biology, by Scott F. Gilbert, a reference text-book for teaching developmental biology, published by Sinauer Associates.
Dr. Primack's research featured in Boston Globe and PLOS One
Apr 27, 2010
A recent article by Dr. Richard Primack and his colleagues on the plant species of Concord was published in PLOS One, and was covered in the Boston Globe and many other media outlets. The work showed that non-native and invasive plants species are better able to take advantage of a changing climate.
Dr. Warkentin's research featured on New Scientist website
Dec 15, 2009
Dr. Warkentin's research on frog embryos is currently being featured on the New Scientist and Smithsonian Institute websites. Her research team found that snake-like vibrations induced the eggs to hatch earlier. They suggest that the embryos can distinguish two characteristics of rain – a pattern of low and high frequency vibrations that increase slowly in amplitude.
Dr. Buston's research featured on cover of Molecular Ecology
Nov 05, 2009
The research of Dr. Peter Buston and his collaborators was featured on the
cover of this month's journal of Molecular Ecology. In this paper they
show that kin selection, which is already known to play an important role
in social evolution in terrestrial systems, could also play a role in the
evolution of social behavior in marine systems.
Our Faculty
Jelle Atema's laboratory focuses on three research areas: chemical ecology of lobsters, navigation in sharks, and dispersal in larval reef fishes.
Learn more about Dr. Atema and other biology faculty...
Michael Baum's research is aimed at the mechanisms controlling the sexual differentiation and adult display of courtship behaviors in mice.
Learn more about Dr. Baum and other biology faculty...
Cynthia Bradham's research is focused on understanding secondary (dorsal-ventral) axis specification and patterning in the sea urchin.
Learn more about Dr. Bradham and other biology faculty...
Gloria Callard's research focuses on the biosynthesis and actions of estradiol.
Learn more about Dr. Callard and other biology faculty...
Ian Callard's research involves the cellular and molecular actions of estrogen and progesterone associated with the evolution of live-bearing (viviparity) from an egg laying (oviparous) mode of reproduction.
Learn more about Dr. Callard and other biology faculty...
John Celenza's research focuses on plant development, molecular biology, and genetics.
Learn more about Dr. Celenza and other biology faculty...
Geoffrey Cooper's laboratory studies the roles of proto-oncogene proteins in the signal transduction pathways that control proliferation and survival of mammalian cells.
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Vincent Dionne's research examines the cellular mechanisms underlying detection, discrimination, and encoding of sensory information.
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William Eldred's research is studying how the neurons in the retina communicate with one another using biochemical pathways.
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Horacio Frydman's research generally focuses on understanding how microorganisms and their hosts interact at different biological levels (e.g., molecular, cellular, genetic, ecological and evolutionary).
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Tim Gardner's laboratory studies neural circuits and their development, specifically vocal learning in songbirds.
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Thomas Gilmore's research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which certain genes can transform normal cells into malignant cells, and the normal control of cellular growth by these genes.
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Stjepko Golubic's research concerns the relationship between microorganisms and mineral deposits.
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Ulla Hansen's research involves understanding how regulation of gene expression in mammalian cells controls cell growth and responses to hormones.
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Angela Ho's research concerns the molecular and cellular basis of synaptic function and alzheimer’s disease.
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Hans Kornberg's current research focuses on the metabolic routes by which mutants of E coli, which are devoid of the genes that normally affect utilization of fructose are able to grow on fructose as sole carbon source.
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Trevor Siggers's laboratory uses integrative biochemical and genomic approaches to study gene regulation in the immune and inflammatory systems.
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Jen-Wei Lin's main research focus is on the biophysical events underlying neurotransmitter release.
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Phillip Lobel is interested in fundamental concepts of fish biology and in applying this knowledge to scientific issues and to societal concerns of fisheries management and conservation.
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Edward Loechler's lab investigates the DNA polymerases involved in mutagenic and non-mutagenic bypass of DNA damage.
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Hengye Man is interested in understanding the cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying AMPAR synaptic localization and synaptic plasticity.
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Kim McCall's laboratory is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of programmed cell death and its role in development.
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Frank Naya's research includes dissecting the in vivo role of the myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) family of transcription factors in muscle development.
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Richard Primack's lab is investigating the impact of climate change on the flowering times of plants and the spring arrival of birds in Massachusetts, Japan, and South Korea.
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Christopher Schneider's laboratory combines field studies with a variety of molecular genetic and phenotypic analyses to study adaptation, population biology, systematics, biogeography, and speciation of amphibians and reptiles.
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Daniel Segrè develops theoretical approaches and computational models for the study of complex biological networks.
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Cassandra Smith's research brings novel approaches at the interface of genomics/genetic and biotechnology to complex disease studies.
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Michael Sorenson's research emphasizes molecular genetic approaches to problems in avian systematics, population biology, and behavioral ecology.
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John Finnerty studies coastal marine invertebrates in order to answer fundamental questions concerning biodiversity.
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Pamela Templer is interested in ecosystem ecology and the influence that plant-microbial interactions have on nutrient cycling, retention, and loss.
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Dean Tolan is interested in biochemistry, enzymology, molecular and human genetics, evolution, and the developmental biology of aldolases.
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James Traniello studies the ecological factors that have influenced the genetics of colonies and populations, the behavioral mechanisms of cooperation, and the neural basis of social behavior.
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Karen Warkentin's laboratory examines developing organisms in an ecological context.
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David Waxman is interested in molecular endocrinology and cell signaling through transcriptional networks, cancer gene therapy and pharmacology, liver genes and transcriptional control, and orphan receptors and responses to environmental chemicals.
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Eric Widmaier is primarily interested in the molecular and behavioral mechanisms that result in obesity or weight gain in mammals.
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Ian Davison is primarily interested in the neural basis of sensory perception.
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