The Salem State Biologist Summer 2023

THE SALEM STATE BIOLOGIST

Our Graduating Seniors Are Following Many Pathways

Four of our graduating Seniors were kind enough to answer four questions about their degree experiences.

IYANNAH TILLMAN

What are your current feelings/emotions about graduating?

I am extremely excited to be graduating from Salem State! This is a great accomplishment, and I am proud to call myself a scientist and start my career. I also have feelings of anxiety because this is a big change and I’m taking a giant step forward in my life.

What is a highlight from your degree at SSU?

There have been many highlights during my time at SSU, but my most memorable times will be time spent in the various labs during my student career here, including my organic chemistry labs!

What is a lowlight from your degree at SSU?

I don’t have too many dull moments at Salem State, but one semester I didn’t plan my schedule well. I ended up taking four final exams and four lab practicals, I highly suggest not putting off registering for classes!

What are your immediate short term (1-3 years) goals after graduation?

My immediate goals after graduation are to start a career with a company I love, go back to school for my PhD in microbiology, and to buy a home! I know these goals will take a lot of hard work and effort, but I feel confident that I will stay focused and achieve these goals.

What are your current feelings/emotions about graduating?

I currently feel overwhelmed but not with negative feelings, positive ones! I am excited to finally be able to do what I love and get paid to do it – inform the community about cool science facts all while taking care of our planet.

What is a highlight from your degree at SSU?

A highlight of my degree at SSU is all the amazing individuals I have had the pleasure to get to know, both students and faculty. Everyone within SSU walls can only be defined as creative and passionate. I really appreciated everything these individuals contributed to my time here at SSU.

What is a lowlight from your degree at SSU?

A lowlight from my degree at SSU would have to be my lack of involvement in on-campus clubs/activities. I wish I had taken more time to check out all the awesome opportunities offered.

What are your immediate short term (1-3 years) goals after graduation?

My immediate short-term goals after graduation include getting to know exactly what my hard-earned degree is all about! I want to explore all the kooky and interesting opportunities life throws at me and see where I fit best. I think that is one of the most exciting aspects – you never know where you’ll end up.

JAVERIA SOHAIL

What are your current feelings/emotions about graduating?

I feel excited to move on to the next chapter of my life and apply what I’ve learned. On the other hand, I’m a bit sad to be leaving behind the familiarity and routine of school. Overall, though, I’m proud of my achievements and optimistic about what’s to come.

What is a highlight from your degree at SSU?

I feel that the highlight of my degree at SSU was the sense of community and support that I found here. From the faculty to the other students, I felt like I was part of a network of people who were invested in my success. This helped me to stay motivated and engaged throughout my time at SSU and gave me a strong foundation for my future career.

What is a lowlight from your degree at SSU?

During my time as a transfer student at SSU, I had an overall positive experience and did not encounter any major lowlights. I appreciated the smaller class sizes, which allowed for more personalized attention and collaboration with my peers. Looking back, however, I realize that there were opportunities for me to further enhance my academic and professional growth. If I had been a freshman, sophomore, or junior at SSU, I would have focused more on seeking out research opportunities with professors and participating in extracurricular activities to expand my network and skill set. Nonetheless, I am grateful for the education and experiences I received at SSU and believe they have prepared me well for my future endeavors.

What are your immediate short term (1-3 years) goals after graduation?

After graduating, my immediate focus has been applying to graduate programs. Specifically, I have applied to the Doctor of Pharmacy programs at Western New England University and MCPHS Worcester. I am excited to share that I have secured interviews at both schools, which are scheduled for the beginning of April.

MICHAEL KAPSOKALIS

What are your current feelings/emotions about graduating?

My current feelings about graduating are mixed, but all in a good way! My initial emotion leading up to this moment is a sense of accomplishment and being able to share such a proudful moment with family and friends! As a returning student with an associate’s degree and a parent of two children, I didn’t know what to expect and what challenges I would face. I’m thankful and appreciative for having family that were there for me, as well as sincere educators of SSU who saw my potential and encouraged me along the way!

What is a highlight from your degree at SSU?

The biggest highlight will be getting the degree of course, but there have been many highlights leading up to my degree at SSU. Thanks to the organization of meetings/chats with past alumni of SSU, I’ve been able to have conversations that have given me insight to what career moves I will pursue. Another highlight that I didn’t expect was winning the best capstone award! After seeing so many students with great capstone presentations, it didn’t cross my mind that I had a chance. That right there, showed me that anything is possible!

What is a lowlight from your degree at SSU?

There is no denying that the lowlight is the stress in keeping up with projects and assignments while having to deal with other responsibilities outside of SSU. I’ve had a lot of support and guidance from SSU staff, which allowed me to overcome major hurdles and eventually get to this point.

What are your immediate short term (1-3 years) goals after graduation?

My short-term goals would be to pursue a career in the biotech industry, preferably in a laboratory setting and enhance my knowledge in both old and new innovation techniques. After the transition and if time permits, I would like to further my education towards a graduate degree!

THE BENEFITS OF CONDUCTING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Pamela Rosales .

My name is Pamela Rosales and I graduated from Salem State University in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. I am a first-generation Hispanic woman from a lowincome family which are part of my identities, but they don’t define me. Above all, I am a scientist, but I didn’t always identify with this. I began my undergraduate career with the intention of attending medical school and becoming a doctor specializing in the hospital but soon discovered that this path wasn’t right for me. Being at Salem State and a part of the Biology Department has introduced to me to not only professors but peers that encourage my passion for science. I was unaware of what scientific research was until the beginning of my junior year when I tackled on 3 capstone courses and one of my favorite courses taught by the two wonderful professors, Dr. Tracy Ware and Dr. Harry Pariser, in one semester.

While there are several other courses that have given me the foundation and background I needed, BIO404: Genetics of Human Disease and BIO313: Molecular Biology are two of the courses deserve recognition for their impact on my interest in scientific research. In BIO 404 I learned how to dissect and discuss journal articles, the complexity of epigenetic disease mechanisms, modern techniques used in genetics such as next-generation sequencing, and most importantly, what allowed me to realize the path I’m meant to be on, writing a grant proposal for an experiment I designed using bioinformatics tools. In BIO313, I learned about the magnificent world of biological systems through a molecular lens and designed my own gene cloning experiment. Thanks to Dr. Jason Brown, Dr. Tracy Ware, and many other professors, I further developed as an undergraduate student and decided to apply for a summer research internship which I didn’t know at the time would be a milestone and one of my greatest achievements as a young scientist. I worked at the Ragon Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Shiv Pillai who specializes in autoimmune diseases, and I pivoted a new research question this lab had developed. I was able to use my knowledge learned in the courses mentioned and apply it to real scientific research and I did an incredible research project where I began the process of characterizing autoreactive B cells that recognize autoantigens in the autoimmune disease, IgG4-Related Disease (IgG4-RD). My experience was enjoyable, and I got to meet brilliant immunologists which have propelled me to apply to graduate school for my PhD. I will be returning to the Ragon Institute in the summer of 2023 where I will continue to investigate the questions we developed.

During my last semester at Salem State, I was invited to join the lab of Dr. Laura Laranjo who investigates the effects of FDA-approved drugs on DNA mutations using E. coli. I am delighted to be a part of this lab and contribute to the scientific data by using my own skills I have developed. Through all of this and some more, I am going to Brandeis University in the Fall of 2023 to earn my PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology. This was made possible through the amazing professors at Salem State and my advisor, Dr. Tess Killpack who has seen me grow as a person, woman, and scientist since 2019 and I will now honor the hard work and brilliance of these people and of myself at Brandeis University

BIOSOCIETY

The 2022-2023 academic year was the first year since Covid-19 that the Biological Society was fully active. We made sure to take advantage of this year to come back stronger than ever before. Thanks to the support of the amazing E-board and the Biology Department, we were able to host numerous successful events this semester.

We celebrated Halloween by hosting the House of Horrors, where we showcase the “scary side” of biology in a haunted house style. Our society also had the opportunity of walking in the Haunted Happenings parade, with our theme of “Infectious Diseases”. Our members wore plague doctor masks, and we were able to engage with the Salem community and spread the word about our organization outside of Salem state.

NEWS FROM OUR STUDENT SOCIETIES WHAT ARE OUR ALUMNI UP TO?

Together the Biology Society also did some traveling; we went on a whale watching cruise and aquarium trip, where we got to experience whales in their natural habitat. The Biology Society also brought some traditions back by hosting our yearly t-shirt contest, which the winning design was featured in our new shirts. Some other events we hosted were our “Celebrate the Holidays” party, as well as multiple tabling events through the semester, during the Darwin Festival and other campus events. The Biology Society mission has always included giving back to our community which is why we participated in the Revere Polar Plunge for the Special Olympics. Through our collective efforts we were able to fundraise over $1300 and our members also plunged in the freezing water to show our support.

Finally, to close the semester we have planned our Earth Day Festival, where we will plant a tree in north campus as a pledge to be more sustainable in our future events. This year has truly been one of the best one for BioSociety so far, we are beyond grateful for all the amazing events and opportunities we were able to host and offer to our members. This year only serves as motivation for us, we have very ambitious plans for next year, with the end goal always being to support and educate our Salem State students. We hope to continue our success into the future and to leave a positive impact not only on our members but on the whole Salem State community. If you want to get involved follow us on Instagram @biosociety_ssu or stop by our office in Meier 533. Our Biology Society is doing great things and you won’t want to miss them, GO BIO!

Morelia Morel Diaz – outgoing President of the BioSociety

SCUBA CLUB

The SCUBA Club at Salem State University is a student-run organization dedicated to coordinating dive opportunities for licensed divers, educating others and implementing sustainable practices, and helping students receive their dive certifications.

The club president, Samantha Fink, recently renewed the club, as it was inactive for multiple years due to lack of student interest. At present, the club has around 20 members, with new students signing up every week! The SCUBA Club has recently participated in multiple events, including the Biology Society’s big Earth Day festival.

Within our club, the goal is to help students receive their diving certifications, whether it be as a helpful addition for marine biology students, a valuable skill, or just as a hobby. With the recent campus pool closure, we are currently devising a plan for next semester to help students get certified for the least possible cost to students.

The SCUBA Club at Salem State aims to educate and inspire the world’s future biologists by introducing them to diving practices and first-hand encounters with marine flora and fauna.

Samantha Fink, SCUBA Club President, Biology Student, May 2023

MEGAN FERNANDEZ AND HER CAREER IN ZEBRA FISH RESEARCH

After being micromanaged in a career for 5 years that I just chose because it seemed like a good idea, I left my full-time job and went back school as a non-traditional student. I’ve always been fascinated by aquatic environments, so I dove into Marine Biology. I graduated from SSU in 2020 with a BS in Biology and a concentration in Marine Biology.

My Marine Biologist career started off as a research intern/volunteer for Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation working on a whale watch boat in Gloucester, MA. I collected data on whale behavior and educated passengers on whale anatomy and conservation. I worked with Drs. Popolizio and Killpack, conducting research and pilot studies to update the lab curriculum of BIO131. I also worked with Dr. Joe Buttner on daily maintenance of the aquaponic system and completed an expansion project on it.

Today, I’m the Aquatics Facility Manager for the zebrafish labs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Our main facility is

4,000 square feet and houses ~6,000 tanks. We have 2 very large custom recirculating filtration systems. We also have a smaller satellite facility nearby. Zebrafish have 70% the same genome as humans and are used as genetic model organisms by scientists in our labs to conduct cardiovascular, neuromuscular, and immunological research. I started out at BWH as the full-time technician for 2 years and then moved up to Facility Manager. I have a staff of research technicians (2 are from SSU) that help me with daily operations like feeding the fish and maintaining the facility. It’s a 7 day a week, 365 days per year operation. My main responsibility is the welfare of the fish. We are accredited by laboratory animal welfare groups, and I must keep up standards to stay in operation. A large part of my job is to maintain the filtration systems and the facility itself. This requires a lot of problem solving because things break, and I must figure out how to fix them. I regularly collaborate with engineers, veterinarians, scientists, and others in the zebrafish research community to keep everything running smoothly and to stay current.

I started out at SSU having a general idea about what I wanted to do, naturally fell into a good career with lots of hard work, and now I feel like I’m at the place where I’m happy and can thrive. Five years from now, I hope to become an Associate Director of the animal research department and take on even more administrative responsibilities. My professors at SSU helped give me the confidence to keep going when things got hard, and they have been an invaluable asset on my continuous journey to thrive.

KAYLEY LEFRANCOIS AND HER CAREER IN BIOTECHNOLOGY

I transferred to Salem University via the Mass Transfer program after completing an Associate’s in Liberal Arts at North Shore Community College. I had always loved science and biology and was aspiring to be a high school science teacher. The same year I transferred to SSU I was diagnosed with a genetic mutation of my BRCA1 gene. This type of mutation meant I had something known as Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome and put me at a really high risk of developing a handful of different cancers like my mother had battled much of my teenage years. I spent countless hours trying to learn about cancer and the biology that drives it, repair proteins and signaling cascades, and eventually became enthralled by cell biology, cancer biology and cellular signaling pathways.

I shifted my unfocused biology degree to a concentration in Biomedical Science and during my Senior year at SSU I applied to the internship program at Cell Signaling Technology (CST) - a private, local, biotech company right in the heart of Danvers that develops world-class antibodies and other research tools to help drive and accelerate biological understanding and research in all sorts of areas of the life sciences. I worked in the “ChIP” group performing chromatin immunoprecipitation assays to help develop antibodies that investigate one or several specific protein-DNA interactions or interactions across the whole genome. I enjoyed generating exciting data using these benchtop assays but what I really fell in love with that summer was cell culture. The tissue culture lab had hundreds of cell lines they worked with and manipulated them in all sorts of ways to induce a range of biological responses… and they got to watch it all unfold under the microscope. It captivated me.

During my final weeks as an intern at CST, a position was posted for a Research Associate

I on the product development team’s Model System and Tissue Culture Core. I applied to the position and received a part-time contract with the agreement that I would go full-time immediately upon graduation in December 2017. The work in this group is so exciting to me that I work on the same team to this very day. Over the last 6 years my role has grown from RA I, to RA II, then Senior RA, to my current role as a Group Leader. In this position I am lucky enough to work with my own team of RAs to create biological model systems used for testing and validating all of CST’s various products and projects in development. Every day we use a variety of cell lines originating from biobanks, collaborators, or isolated in-house from human whole-blood or animal tissues and modify or treat them to create an array of biological model systems for testing. My job is exciting to me every, single day! I feel very lucky to work at CST.

CST is a unique company in many ways and prides itself on its commitment to our local community. This becomes evident when you see the immense presence of CST employees who are also fellow Viking grads here. On my team alone, 3 of 16 members are SSU alumni (and another on the way)! Across all of development there are over 10 (recent) SSU alumni, just that I can name quickly off the top of my head. I continue to accredit this to the incredible teachers in the biology department at SSU and their relentless devotion and passion for their students, year after year. I hope the relationship between CST and SSU continues to grow and that we can continue to work together to create a thriving, local, scientific community for years to come.

Above are Salem State University students, Dr. Fisher, and SSU Grads and current CST employees, Jacob Alden (second left) and Kayley LeFrancois (front) touring a tissue culture room at CST

Above are SSU Alumni and current CST employees (from L-R) Irune Aparicio, Jordan Cierpich, and Tarnue Koimene with Dr. Fisher on a visit to CST

Kayley LeFrancois – SSU Biology 2017

44th DARWIN FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 2023 TWO INSPIRING TALKS ON ALUMNI DAY

The Friday of the Darwin Festival is always Alumni Day. In 2023 we welcomed MD/PhD Candidate Mr. Webb Camille (2017) to speak to us about his PhD research. He gave an engaging talk about an important contributory factor of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), entitled “What is the role of citrullination in ALS?”. Following his talk, he met with a group of Biology students over lunch and they learned all about his research, his MD program at UMASS Chan Medical School umassmed.edu, as well as his pathway to this point in his exciting career.

Students thoroughly enjoyed the lunch as can be seen in these quotes: “Webb Camille, an alumnus of the Salem State University Biology Department was an honored guest at this year’s Darwin Festival. His research “the Role of Citrullination in ALS” and altering the overall function of a chaperone protein was thoroughly interesting. Beyond that, having a speaker that was once in our position as a student gave hope that others like him can land in a successful career path after college. He is living proof that students at a small state school can do just as well post-college as those attending more well-known schools.”

Brenna Dillon – BioSociety eBoard Officer

After the lunch, our very own, Dr. Jason Brown, who had mentored Webb in lab while Webb was an undergraduate at Salem State, delivered an engaging talk. It focused on his research on ciliopathies using the model organism, the freshwater alga Chlamydomonas, infusing into his talk mention of a number of the students he had worked with in his lab. His talk was entitled: “Cilia, diseases, and organelle assembly - Leeuwenhoek’s ‘little legs’ in the spotlight”.

A few weeks after our 44th festival, I tracked down Jason and Webb and asked them about the day.

WEBB CAMILLE ALUMNI DAY MORNING SPEAKER

What did you find most enjoyable about your visit to the 44th Darwin Festival? The most enjoyable part of the Darwin festival was the environment when giving my talk. It brought back memories of going to Darwin festival talks during my undergraduate years. It was surreal to think 6 years ago, I was a senior sitting in one of those chairs in awe of scientific research. Now I am the speaker who gets to inspire the next generation of scientist and doctors.

What were most of our students asking questions about?

Most students were asking questions about my MD/PhD program and more broadly medical school admissions. Many students at SSU are hoping to continue their education after graduating and they wanted more insight on different roles in health care. Those students are interested in the medical field but were not sure where to start to determine how they want to contribute to health care.

What are some of the memories you have of working with Jason while you were an undergraduate here?

I remember being in the back room of the labs where we conducted our research. It was only big enough for two people and the autoclave. I remember seeing my algae mutants that grew one flagellum spinning in circles under the microscope. It was amazing to think we were pursuing new knowledge in that environment.

What advice do you have for our students who are thinking about going on the Med School and/or conducting research at the graduate level? Make sure you understand the process and have an end goal. For medical school, students should know what they are sacrificing when they embark on such a journey as well as the different types of physicians. For a PhD, students should get involved early in research, so they understand how research is conducted in academia. Students in either path should consider their end goal, it may change once you get going, but having a solid foundation of where you want to be in 10-15 years is critical.

I know you are extremely busy with your MD program and the PhD research side. What do you do to relax and unwind and how important is finding time to relax?

I always make sure my time is filled with quality events. I don’t use social media or watch tv/movies. When I have free time, I make plans with friends and family to catch up or be outdoors. Knowing how to utilize your down time is key. Hours can be wasted on your phone or watching Netflix. Make the most of your time because it is priceless.

Mr. Webb Camille surrounded by Biology students after his talk

Dr. Jason Brown giving his talk

DR. JASON BROWN ALUMNI DAY AFTERNOON SPEAKER

What did you find most enjoyable about giving your talk at the 44th Darwin Festival?

It gave me the opportunity to really think about how students have contributed to my research projects over the years. Since students have been such a big part of my work, this was a lot of fun.

What are some memories you have of working with Webb, while he was an undergraduate?

I still remember Webb telling me the first day that I met him that he was planning to go to medical school. While we worked hard and had a lot of fun doing research, Webb never lost that focus. He was also willing to do what it took to take advantage of any opportunity that might help him reach his goal. During that spring semester of his sophomore year, I suggested that he might consider coming to work with me at UMass Medical School for the summer. He very quickly rearranged his schedule and made this happen within just a couple of weeks. I know that was not easy and I have always been impressed with that move on his part.

What has changed, in your opinion, in terms of what was expected of undergraduate students when you were one, versus what we expect of our undergraduates in 2023?

I think our expectations are different in several ways, but ultimately it comes down to more ways of engaging in the field of biology. As one example, I don’t think I read a journal article in a serious way until after I graduated. Now, I see students in several different classes engaging with the scientific literature, even at the 100-level! I also think there are now more courses that give students multiple ways to practice what they are learning and different ways to show what they have learned. Most of my undergraduate courses had 2 or 3 exams and that was your course grade.

Keeping your relationship with Webb in mind, what advice would you give our students who might be considering Med School?

I would say learn the details about the process of applying to medical school as early as you can so that you can plan ahead. Realize that getting accepted to medical school may be a long process, so if you are serious about it, you may need to be patient. Finally, I think getting to know one or more faculty members quite well can be a real positive. As we worked together on his research project, I got to know Webb well enough that I have never been hesitant about advocating for him when I have the chance.

A FUTURE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM IN BIOLOGY

Research has revealed that providing authentic research experiences for undergraduates improves their career prospects significantly (Carpi et al., 2017). The generosity of Biology alumni and other donors has allowed the Biology Department to provide a range of research experiences for our students.

Biology is fortunate to have annual research awards for students through donations from the late Drs. Al Borgattti and Ed Sweeney. In addition, and tied directly to this theme of a Summer Research Program, Dr. Kathy Murphy (Biology 1973) has provided funds to ‘kick off’ our embryonic summer research with students in 2017 – these monies continue through an endowed fund. Most recently, Mr. Peter Shearstone (1989) has provided funding in various forms including generous funding over five years for our annual Darwin Festival - https://www.salemstate.edu/darwinfestival

Students that have benefited from summer research include:

Megan Fernandez and Kristen Lewis – worked with Drs. Tess Killpack and Thea Popolizio in modernizing our BIO131 introductory course, to focus more on research and inquiry. Megan is currently Facility Manager - Aquatics Department in the Center for Comparative Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Kristen is an instructor at the Gloucester Biotechnology Academy.

Ellen Acheampong – Summer 2017 – working with Dr. Jason Brown, carried out a genetic screen in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to identify mutants defective in cilia regeneration and transcription of cilia-specific genes. Ellen is currently a Ph.D. student in Immunology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Sarah Stanhope – Summer 2019 – working with Jason Brown, used restriction mapping to determine that a plasmid sent by one of their collaborators was not the expected plasmid and planned a CRISPR-based method to disrupt a gene of interest. Sarah is currently a Ph.D. student in Biochemistry at Purdue University.

Rebecca Shteynberg (2020), Sydney Addorisio (2021) and Kamila de Andrade (2022),working with Dr. Laura Laranjo, contributed to the investigation of FDA-approved drugs and the effects on template-switch mutagenesis in E. coli. Rebecca is currently working towards going to dental school, Sydney is a PhD student at Tufts University, while Kamila graduates in December 2023.

Our aim is to create our own version of the Weiss Summer Research Program in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics at The College of the Holy Cross - holycross.edu/office-science-coordinator/summer-scienceresearch-program

Thanks to Kathy Murphy’s generosity, all the above students received a small stipend, a supply budget, and the faculty mentor received a small stipend too. We hope to begin the program in Summer 2024, running

research projects for 8-10 students, with 4 or 5 faculty members. The research will be conducted during the Summer I session (Monday after Commencement until the end of June 2024). Students will apply for a spot on the program during the Fall 2023 semester. If they are successful, they will conduct the research in Summer 2024, then write up their project in the Fall 2024 semester. It is envisaged that the 6-week summer program will allow time for the students to take a course or two, to hear invited speakers and alumni, and the summer program will end with a short symposium.

The funding of this program will be covered by grants and, hopefully, donors. Ideally, we would have an endowed fund that could be drawn on each year, augmented by grant funding, allowing the program to continue into the future. We estimate that to get the program going in the Summer of 2024, we would need the following funding:

Stipends for students - $3,000 per student – assuming 8 students - $24,000 Stipends for faculty - $3,000 per faculty member to cover guiding 1 or 2 students – say four faculty, $12,000.

Research supplies - $8,000

TOTAL $44,000

References

Carpi. A., D.M. Ronan, H.M. Falconer & M.H. Lents. 2017. Cultivating Minority Scientists: Undergraduate Research Increases Self-Efficacy and Career Ambitions for Underrepresented Students in STEM. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 54(2): 169-194.

Ryan Fisher July 2023

Faculty News DR. MARK FREGEAU RETIRES

AFTER 33 YEARS

I clearly remember being met by my colleague, Dr. Mark Fregeau, when I arrived for my interview on a chilly December 2003 morning. I was fortunate enough to begin in Biology in January 2004 and have valued my nearly 20 years as a colleague of Marks. My other colleague, Ted Maney, has known Mark much longer, being Mark’s best man at his wedding and being at Graduate School with Mark (see photo). Mark and Ted collaborated on many research projects and will continue to do so after Mark’s retirement.

STUDENTS VISIT LIFE SCIENCE COMPANIES ON THE NORTH SHORE

Students were excited to learn about post-graduate life in two biotechnology-pharma companies on the North Shore during visits in late April and early May. The first visit was to Cell Signaling Technology (https://www.cellsignal.com ), where we were hosted by Ms. Krystyna Hincman and alumnus, Mr. Tarnue Koimene (2015).

While at Cell Signaling we marveled at the lush, tropical rainforest, that thrives in the inner atrium and how friendly everyone, including a half-dozen Salem State alumni, were! These photos reveal how much the visit was enjoyed.

In early May we trekked out to Chelmsford, MA to a ThermoFisher Scientific (https://www.thermofisher. com/us/en/home.html ) facility that specializes in vaccine compounds. After a light breakfast, and engaging tour, we chatted with Biology alumnus, Mr. Peter Shearstone (1989), who is the Vice President for Global Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs at the company.

BIO399 FIELD EXPERIENCES IN BIOLOGY STUDENTS VISIT BERMUDA

Dr. Thea Popolizio explored the marine habitats of Bermuda with her BIO399 Field Experiences in Biology students (June 11th-17th, 2023). The group stayed at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOShttps://bios.asu.edu/) and spent the week investigating life in coral reefs, mangrove forests, and various intertidal habitats. The week included guest lectures from colleagues at BIOS covering marine conservation, coral reefs and the nursery role of mangroves.

Dr. Popolizio has worked with colleagues at BIOS for many years, as is evidenced by the guest speakers during the week. Some may also remember Dr. Amy Maas speaking at our 2022 Darwin Festival - https:// digitalrepository.salemstate.edu/handle/20.500.13013/2201

Alumnus Mr. Tarnue Koimene (foreground) and students, with Ms. Krystyna Hincman (extreme right), our guide.

Alumnus, Mr. Peter Shearstone (extreme right) and students.

At the end of the tour, gathered with our guide, Mr. Rob Gentile (extreme left).

Dr. Mark Fregeau and professor Ted Maney’ at Cat Cove Marine Lab

Senior Maja Mazierkowska had this to say: “The biodiversity present in an environment like Bermuda is mesmerizing. It was like a whole new world to me. I loved exploring the island’s different ecosystems and learning about its variety of fish species.”

Senior Marcus Wright enjoyed the trip very much, saying: “this trip to Bermuda was a great opportunity to have a real field experience like no other. Marine biology majors should consider this class, as it provided exposure to a new environment, with new organisms, and a chance to network with people from all over the world, as BIOS is a major research facility.”

Student projects during the week in Bermuda included:

• Fish identification survey, using long term data sets. (reef.org)

• Microplastic survey from four different tidal points – also contributing to a long term data set – Cooper’s Island, Bermuda

• Coral point analysis using previous quadrat photos.

NUCLEAR MEDICINE TECHNOLOGY CONCENTRATION CONGRATULATES NEW GRADUATES

Congratulations to the Salem State University Nuclear Medicine program graduating class of 2023 pictured with new NMT Clinical Coordinator Michael Soden (SSU NMT 2018 alumni). Class of 2023 is the largest group the NMT program has had in over 10 years. The Nuclear Medicine field is growing and in need of certified technologists. The class of 2023 had job offers starting in January, 4 months prior to graduating! Congrats NMT class of 2023!

BIO461 DNA FINGERPRINTING COURSE MAKING STRIDES

Professors Thea Popolizio and Tess Killpack developed a new course for Biology students titled “Introduction to DNA Barcoding.” DNA barcodes are designated DNA regions that are found in all organisms of a given taxon (plants, animals, fungi), but the precise sequences are unique from species-to-species, and therefore can serve as species identifiers. DNA barcoding is a powerful molecular technique used in diverse fields such as ecology, conservation, and forensics, to determine the identity of living specimens. Through the course students gain training in lab techniques such as DNA extraction, PCR, and Gel Electrophoresis. Amplified DNA from the samples is sent for Sanger sequencing. Students receive the results and are trained in bioinformatics techniques to analyze the sequences and make an identification. Students apply their DNA barcoding knowledge and skills to original student-designed research projects in their areas of interest, including food and nutritional product forensics, biodiversity surveys, and ecological research.

Dr. Tess Killpack June 2023

Snorkeling in a Sea Cave

Students working in the lab at BIOS

Senior Marcus Wright taking microplastic samples

Dr. Thea Popolizio (back left) and the BIO399 Summer 2023 Student Bermuda Group

Left to Right: Nina Savage, Sern Nhep, Kayla Smith, Matt Pinto, Markos Gkorgki, Mike Soden (Clinical Coordinator), Jeriel Garcia, Angela King

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY MAY 2023

Salem State Research Day took place on Monday, May 8, 2023 in the O’Keefe Center. The event was buzzing with excitement celebrating the scholarly and creative activities of our students. Congratulations to all the Biology students who presented posters and thank you to their dedicated faculty mentors!

Cam Boisvert - “Mining Genomes for Transcription Factors Involved with Cilia Assembly” (Mentor: Dr. Jason Brown)

Robyn Cashins - “Independent Study in Aquaponics” (Mentor: Dr. Joe Buttner)

SEEN AROUND

Dr. David Mercer (Chair of Biology), Alumna Sydney Addorisio, Dr. Ryan Fisher, and Dr. Marilyn Francis – visiting Tufts University Biology Labs, May 2023

Biology faculty and PULSE Ambassadors during a workshop in May 2017

Iyannah Tillman and Genesis Najarro - “Research in Biology: A Search for Antibiotics in our Coastal Marine Setting” (Mentor: Dr. Amy Sprenkle)

Iyannah Tillman and Genesis Najarro explaining their project

Kriza Baldow - Discovery and Annotation of Microbacterium foliorum Actinobacteriophages and Statistical Analysis of the Percentage of Genes with No Known Function across the E Cluster” (Mentor: Dr. Amy Sprenkle)

- “Effect of Vermicompost on Tomato Plant Growth” (Mentor: Dr. Ryan Fisher)

Michael

Lindsay Aubin and Samantha White - “Using DNA Barcoding as Evidence to Detect “Fish Fraud” in Local Restaurants” (Mentor: Dr. Thea Popolizio)

Cam Boisvert explaining his project

Kriza Baldow explaining her project

Robyn Cashins and her poster

Michael Kapsokalis and his work

Lindsay Aubin and Samantha White were very proud of their poster

Kapsokalis