BioBits: A Sampling of the Simply Outstanding

Senior Scientist Named Ohio Eminent Scholar in Molecular Genetics

Stephen A. Osmani will join the molecular genetics faculty on January 1, 2001 as the Ohio Eminent Scholar in Molecular Genetics. Osmani received his Ph.D. from Kings College, London, England, in 1984 and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's Robert Wood Johnson Medical School from 1984-1988. Osmani has been a Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology at Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine and Senior Scientist at the Weis Center for Research since 1997. Osmani, whose research area is cell cycle regulation and nuclear migration, is well known and respected in the scientific community. He is the author of numerous publications and a frequently invited speaker at top professional meetings. Osmani's research, which deals with the way cells regulate growth and division, has important implications for the understanding and treatment of cancer, a disease in which cell growth and division have become uncontrolled.

Biochemistry Professor Named Distinguished Scholar

Biochemistry Professor George Marzluf was one of this year's recipients of the University's Distinguished Scholar Award, which recognizes exceptional scholarly accomplishments. Recipients are nominated by their departments and chosen by a committee of senior faculty. They receive a $3,000 honorarium and a $20,000 research grant. Marzluf pioneered the study of gene expression in fungi, developing new biochemical techniques to reveal how genes control metabolic processes-work that led to an increased understanding of the universality of biological processes. Marzluf's research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 30 years. Marzluf, who graduated summa cum laude from Ohio State, received his Ph.D. with distinction from Johns Hopkins University and has been a member of the biochemistry faculty since 1970. He served as department chair for the past 14 years, stepping down on June 30, 2000 to devote more time to his research program.

Entomology Professor Selected University Distinguished Lecturer

Clive A. Edwards, Professor of Entomology, has been selected one of this year's University Distinguished Lecturers. This is one of the university's highest honors for senior faculty members. Each year, the Office of Academic Affairs chooses only two of the university's most distinguished professors for this honor. Their selection is based on a record of outstanding achievement, particularly in research or scholarship. Edwards is an internationally-recognized expert on soil ecology and is director of the Soil Ecology Program. Edwards was named University Distinguished Scholar in 1998. He will give his lecture during Winter or Spring Quarter 2001.

Susan Fisher Will Lead University Senate

Capping an exemplary record of service to the University community, Susan Fisher, Professor of Entomology, has been appointed by Provost Ed Ray to serve a three-year term as Secretary of the University Senate. The Senate's 136 members help set educational and academic policies. Fisher has long been active in university governance, serving on more than 50 university-wide committees and subcommittees. In Faculty Senate, she has chaired the Senate Steering Committee, the Executive Steering Committee, Faculty Council, and Faculty Cabinet. Additionally, Fisher was recognized this year with a University Distinguished Service Award-the university's highest award for faculty service.

Microbiology Grad Student Selected for Antarctica Course

Microbiology graduate student Brent Christner has been selected by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to participate in the 2001 Antarctic Biology Training Course. With financial support from NSF, Christner will spend January 2001 at the United States Research base at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, where he and a select group of student researchers will embark on a unique learning experience. This exciting opportunity provides advanced training involving both field and lab research on the microbial ecology of the Antarctic Dry Valleys. His selection is a well-recognized honor in the scientific community: The competition for the few available positions (about 20 students, only 14 from the United States) is intense. Christner works with John Reeve, Rod Sharp Professor of Microbiology and department chair on the "Life in the Ice" research project.

Professor Receives Fellowship/Media Training

Professor Allison Snow, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, was named a Year 2000 Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellow by the Ecological Society of America (ESA). Ten of the nation's top ecology researchers were selected to receive two separate one-week media/outreach training sessions. Media relations consultants prepped the researchers on everything from translating their research into understandable language for a lay public to how to prepare for a television interview. Snow, who is frequently interviewed by national and international media, found the intense sessions both enjoyable and productive.

As part of their studies of social insects, Associate Professor John Wenzel, entomology, (shown) and graduate student Kurt Pickett collected the largest wasp nest known in North America. This fragment of the nest shows how yellowjackets built combs in and around a hollow tree outside Ft. Meyers, Florida. This colony, which probably devoured more than five million other insects during the several years of its life, contained at least 38 reproducing queens and a total of 476,982 cells.

Plant-Microbe Genomics Facility Established By Ohio Board of Regents

F. Robert Tabita, Ohio Eminent Scholar in Microbiology, has been named director of the Plant-Microbe Genomics Facility. This unique facility is supported by a Hayes Grant from the Ohio Board of Regents for more than $750,000 and is a consortium of researchers from Ohio State University, Ohio University and the University of Toledo. This facility will allow Ohio universities to play an important role as the "Biotech Century" unfolds, to make significant contributions to the development of genomics research, particularly plant and microbial genomics, and to have a positive impact on student training.

Biologist AAAS/Fordham Foundation Panelist

Steve Rissing, Director of the Introductory Biology Program, was an invited participant on a panel co-sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation held in Washington DC on September 26, 2000. Panelists discussed various topics related to the Fordham/AAAS report on the teaching of evolution in grades K-12, which gave several states, including Ohio, flunking grades.

Research Associate Wins Staff Award

Microbiology Department Research Associate Bill Swoager is the first recipient of the College of Biological Sciences Distinguished Staff Award. Swoager was chosen from several nominees on the basis of his creative problem solving, willingness to go the extra mile and longstanding dedication and service to his department and to the college. Swoager has been with the Department of Microbiology for 30 years. This is the first year that the College has given an award to recognize the excellence and efforts of the dedicated cadre of Biological Sciences staff. The recipient receives a check for $1200. Staff are nominated by faculty and other staff members and are subject to a rigorous review process.

Undergraduates Win Research Competitions

Each year, our undergraduates have the opportunity to participate in and compete for awards in two separate research competitions, the university-wide Denman Research Competition and the College of Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Colloquium. Two of our students received First Place Awards in the Denman competition and $500-Jessica Salak, microbiology, and Demicha Sparks, microbiology. Christina Pacak, molecular genetics, won a Second Place Award and received $300. Jason Tuckerman, biochemistry was a Third Place winner and received $200. Two students received honorable mention and $100: Heather Handley, biology, and Isaac Mehl, molecular genetics. Sixteen of our top undergraduates presented posters at the 2000 Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Colloquium. Christina Pacak, molecular genetics, won first place and a $200 gift certificate. Three students tied for second place and received $100 gift certificates: Kelly McQuown, microbiology, Isaac Mehl, molecular genetics, and Claudine Rejouis, plant biology. In addition, all participants received $50 gift certificates.

Microbiology Major Named 2000 Homecoming Queen

Senior microbiology major Erin Macrae was named Ohio State's 2000 Homecoming Queen. Amanda Graf, molecular genetics and psychology, joined her on the 16-member homecoming court. Students are selected on the basis of leadership abilities and community service.

Graduate Student Wins Two Awards

Chris Wolverton, a plant biology graduate student in Professor Mike Evans lab, was one of only eight graduate students campus wide to win a Graduate School Leadership Award this past June. This award recognizes graduate students who have served their departments and the university community with distinction. Wolverton was cited as providing "exceptional service to the department while maintaining a strong record of scholarship and research productivity." Additionally, Wolverton received a Presidential Fellowship, which will allow him to complete his final year of graduate studies without the additional burden of teaching.

Graduate Student Is Research Award Recipient

Randolf N. Christensen, a molecular genetics graduate student in Professor Roy Tassava's lab, received a Graduate Student Alumni Research Award from the Graduate School, which awards individual grants of up to $2,000 to support dissertation research by doctoral candidates. Proposals are reviewed by the Graduate School's Research Committee in semiannual competitions.

Biochemistry Department Receives Grant for Burroughs Wellcome Fund Lecture

The Department of Biochemistry received a $5,000 grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to sponsor a lecture by Nobel Laureate Sidney Altman, Sterling Professor of Biology at Yale University, which was given March 28, 2000. During Altman's visit, he also met with students, faculty and staff for informal discussions.

Faculty Member Elected President of Acarology Society

Hans Klompen, entomology, was elected president of the Acarology Society of America. Klompen is director of the internationally-acclaimed Acarology (the study of ticks and mites) Laboratory and Acarology Summer Program.

Graduate Student Awarded Presidential Fellowship

Susie Howard, molecular genetics, was awarded a Presidential Fellowship by the Graduate School in November 2000 to support the final year of her thesis dissertation project. Howard is in her fifth year in the MG Graduate Program and conducts research in Paul Herman's lab.

The Dean and faculty of the College of Biological Sciences hosted a reception on November 3 in the Biological Sciences Greenhouses to welcome and honor its minority students and alumni. This event both commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Office of Minority Affairs and initiated an outreach effort to members of traditionally under-represented groups in our student body.