October 2008 Volume 1, Issue 2

The

B u l l e t i nD i v i s i o n o f B i o l o g y K a n s a s S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y

I n s i d e :

Student wins scholarship for second year - Sara Powell is awarded the University Distinguished

Professor Scholarship again in 2008 Page 3

New Konza Director Appointed - Dr. John Briggs has been hired as the first nationally recruited director for Konza Prairie

Biological Research Station. Page 2

2008 Alumni Fellow - Dr. Gerald W. Hart, class of 1977 and Director of the Department of Biological Chemistry

at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Page 3

  John  Blair,  university  distinguished professor of ecology, and Lorena Passarelli, associate  professor  of  molecular  biology, have been appointed associate directors of the Division of Biology.  “The addition of Dr. Blair and Dr. Passarelli as  associate  directors  adds  outstanding teaching  and  research  achievements, as  well  as  discipline  breadth,  gender perspective  and  multicultural  diversity to  our  administrative  team,”  said  Brian Spooner, university distinguished professor and director of the Division of Biology. As associate directors, Blair will focus on  faculty  development,  while  Passarelli’s focus will be on student development.  “I  think  having  associate  directors  that cover the breadth of disciplines in biology is really important and I am very excited about being  able  to  represent  the  ecology  and evolutionary biology section of the Division of  Biology,”  Blair  said.  “I  look  forward  to helping  faculty members  as  they  establish and  develop  their  careers,  and  being  able to  contribute  to  the  continued  growth  of strong  research  and  teaching  programs  in the division.”  “I  have  been  contributing  to  student development  by  encouraging  the involvement of students in research, so this  position  expands  what  I  have  been doing and allows me to develop new ideas for  undergraduate  and  graduate  students to  have  a  richer  and  broader  education,” 

Division Appoints Two New Associate DirectorsPassarelli said.   Blair  joined  K-State  in  1992.  He  was named a university distinguished professor in  2006,  K-State’s  highest  faculty  ranking. He  also  serves  as  the  Edwin  G.  Brychta Professor of Biology. He has been recognized for  his  teaching with  the  William  L. Stamey Outstanding U n d e r g r a d u a t e Teaching  Award from  K-State’s College  of  Arts  and Sciences.  Blair’s  research interests are on the influence of physical and  biological drivers on ecological processes and how ecosystems respond to  changes  in  those drivers as a result of human activities. Since 2002, Blair has  brought  in almost $7 million to K-State as the principal investigator (PI) for multiple projects, as well as an additional $7 million  in collaborative funding  as  a  co-PI  during  the  same  time frame.  He  is  the  PI  and  project  director  of the  National  Science  Foundation-funded Konza  Prairie  Long-Term  Ecological 

Research  (LTER)  Program.  He  is  also  the PI  on  collaborative  research  grants  from the  U.S.  Department  of  Energy’s  National Institute  for  Climate  Change  Research, the  U.S.  Department  of  Agriculture  and the National  Science Foundation. Blair has 

been  leading  the  regional planning  for  the  National Ecological  Observatory Network,  a  National Science  Foundation-sponsored research plan  being  proposed  to the  U.S.  Congress  that includes  K-State’s  Konza Prairie  Biological  Station as a candidate core site for  implementing  a  major new national  research and educational program. Blair received his doctorate from the University  of  Georgia  in 1987.  Passarelli  joined  K-State in 2001 and has been

recognized  with  many  top  teaching  and research  awards,  including  being  the first  recipient  of  K-State’s  Presidential Distinguished  Faculty  Award  for  the Mentoring  of  Undergraduate  Students  in Research in 2007. She has also received The Commerce Bank Presidential Faculty Award for Distinguished (continued on page 2)

Lorena Passarelli and John Blair appointed associate directors for the Division of Biology.

A Word From Dr. Brian S. SpoonerUniversity Distinguished Professor and Division Director

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(continued from page 1) Services to Historically  Underrepresented  Students, the  H.  H.  Haymaker  Teaching  Excellence Award,  the  William  L.  Stamey  Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, the Biology Graduate Student Association’s Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award and a Faculty Scholar Award from the Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence.  Passarelli  currently  serves as  chair of  the College of Arts  and  Sciences Committee on Diversity and as a member of the editorial board of the journal Virology.       She  is  the PI of  active National  Institutes of Health and U.S. Department of Agriculture individual  research  grants  on  viral  gene regulation  and  pathogenesis.  Her  research interests are in molecular virology; specifically, she studies gene regulatory circuits in insect viruses and how insect viruses and insect-vectored viruses establish systemic infections. Her  studies  may  aid  in  the  development of  strategies  that  will  curtail  vector-borne virus  dissemination  and  control  insect  pest populations. Passarelli has been both PI and co-PI  for  many  programs  bringing  in  more than $3 million in research grants to K-State since 2002.Passarelli received her Ph.D. from The University of Georgia in 1993.  “Professors John Blair and Lorena Passarelli have  impressive  research,  teaching  and service achievements, and will contribute to  an  expansion  of  the  Division  of  Biology focus on faculty and student development programs. It is with pleasure that Dave Rintoul, senior associate director, and I welcome them to the Division’s administrative team,” Spooner said.

  The allure of the tallgrass prairie is nothing new  to  Kansas  native,  John  Briggs,  new director of Konza Prairie Biological Station and professor of biology at Kansas State University. In fact, he finds it addicting. “It  just gets  into you,” he said.  Briggs  was  hired  as  the  first  nationally recruited  director  of  Konza  Prairie  Biological Station  starting  in  June.    He  first  began  his career  at  K-State  as  the  data  manager  for the  Long  Term Ecological  Research program on Konza in 1984,  later  gaining promotion  to research professor in the Division of Biology.  He  also served  as  Program Officer for Ecology at the National Science Foundation.  Even though he accepted a professorship at  Arizona  State  University  in  1999,  he  was periodically drawn back to Konza through his research in ecology.  “I  felt  like  I  had  the  best  of  both  worlds. I  could  continue  to  do  research  at  this wonderful place, Konza, while also  living and doing research in Arizona. But when I saw the job description and talked to some folks about it, I knew I had to apply for it,” Briggs said.   Konza  Prairie  was  first  developed  as  an ecological  research  site  in  1971,  under  the leadership  of  Lloyd  Hulbert,  an  ecology professor  at  K-State.  Jointly  owned  by the Nature Conservancy and Kansas State University  and  managed  by  the  Division  of Biology,  Konza  Prairie  currently  spans  about 8,600 acres, 93% unplowed. The station is host to  130  registered  research  projects  by  150 

scientists from all over the world and is one of the National Science Foundation’s Long Term Ecological Research sites.  “Probably one of  the beauties of Konza  is it’s  not  just  a  preserve,  it’s  a  research  area. If we wanted  to  just  preserve  it,  it’d  be  the easiest thing. We’d just burn it one way, graze it very lightly and it would be this wonderful piece  of  prairie.  The  challenge,  but  also  the excitement for me is to balance our research

goals with preservation. I want to preserve native  tallgrass  prairie habitat, but I also want to conduct experiments and  sometimes  those things  create  conflict, so we have to balance the  need  of  different activities,” Briggs said.   In  addition  to balancing  research and  conservation, Briggs  is  interested  in 

maintaining a strong educational component at  Konza.  The  possibility  of  building  an education  center  to  house  students  on field trips may be in the future, if funding permits.   A  program proposed  to  the United  States Congress  called  the  National  Ecological Observatory  Network  includes  Konza  Prairie as  a  candidate  core  site  for  implementing  a major new national research and educational program.  The  educational  program  will translate  scientific  data  into  information that is easier for teachers and the public to understand.   “Tallgrass  prairie  is  one  of  the  most endangered  ecosystems  in  North  America. People come from other places and they are just amazed by it. We have the responsibly to maintain that,” Briggs said.

Ecologist Returns to Kansas as New Director for Konza Prairie

New Associate Directors Continued

Retirement Limerick by Larry Williams

A REAL PLUS WITH AGING, I MENTION IS DRAWING A LUCRATIVE PENSION.BUT A LIFE OF DURESSAND CONTINUAL STRESSCONTRIBUTES TO MY HYPERTENSION!

Brian Spooner congratulates Larry Williams on his retirement

John Briggs hired as new director of Konza Prairie

This past year, we celebrated the  outstanding  career  of  an outstanding  retiring  faculty member, Larry Williams.   As he pursues his new endeavors, we are reminded of the important role he took in the lives of many students and of our commitment to  continue  providing  excellence to undergraduate students.     In the words of Larry Williams, “College  age  students  are  such a  great  age  group  to work with.  They’ve  reached  a  level  of maturity and it’s probably the last time in their lives where they can really  turn  things  around,  learn how to study and make a change 

if they need to.  Watching them transform is an amazing development.”    We  are  privileged  to  work  with  many 

bright minded  individuals  enrolled  in  the Division of Biology. In the past 18 years, 45 Division of Biology students have received nationally competitive scholarships.    One of the Division’s goals is to increase the number of scholarships available to these bright students. Several funds have been  set  up with  the  KSU  Foundation  to provide our exceptional students with deserving scholarships.    Among  those  funds  is  the  Larry  G Williams Undergraduate Scholarship Fund, designed to provide scholarships in honor of Larry Williams’ contribution to teaching and  advising.    For  more  information  on this fund or how to contribute to student scholarships  contact  Damon  Fairchild, Development Officer  at  785-532-1578  or toll free at 800-432-1578, damonf@found.ksu.edu  or  visit  www.ksu.edu/biology/makeagift.html 

A scholarship fund has been set up to honor Dr. Larry Williams for his many years of commitment to students. For more information or to contribute visit: www.k-state.edu/biology/makeagift.html

  For  the  second  year  in  a  row,  Sara Powell, senior in biology, Overland Park, has been awarded the Division of Biology University  Distinguished  Professors Scholarship  for  her  outstanding achievements as a student.  The scholarship includes $500 for the fall  semester  and  $500  for  the  spring semester.  “Sara  is  an  outstanding  student  who combines a superb academic record with a demonstrable commitment to a future career in medicine,” said Brian Spooner, university  distinguished  professor  and director of the Division of Biology.  Powell  credits her mother’s  influence as a cardiac nurse for her interest in the medical  field.  She will  apply  to  the University of Kansas School of Medicine in the fall.  Powell’s  commitment  to  a  medical career  includes  obtaining  certification as  a  nurse’s  assistant,  all  to  gain  more experience in the medical field outside of school. She also expects the completion of her secondary major in gerontology to help her relate to elderly patients.  Clay Harvey, a radiologist from Topeka and a 1974 K-State graduate in biology, is responsible  for establishing  the Division of  Biology  University  Distinguished Professors Scholarship.  “Dr. Harvey’s generosity  in continuing support of this endowment honors the  Division  of  Biology’s  university distinguished  professors,  while benefiting  deserving  undergraduate 

Powell Awarded Scholarship for Second Year

students  through  scholarship  funds,” Spooner  said.  The  title  of  university distinguished  professor  is  the  highest faculty honor at K-State.  Powell  said  prior  to  receiving  the scholarship  for  the  first  time,  she heard  Harvey  speak  at  a  meeting  of the  K-State  chapter  of  Alpha  Epsilon Delta, a pre-medical honor society. He discussed  his  career  and  offered  tips for medical school.  “After  listening  to  Dr.  Harvey’s words  of  encouragement,  I  could  tell how  genuine  and  compassionate  he was,”  Powell  said.  “He’s  the  kind  of person and physician who has further motivated  me  to  enter  the  medical field, and  I have no doubt he has had a  similar  impact  on  other  students. I  cannot  thank  him  enough  for  the various ways he has facilitated my own aspirations.”

What started with a simple childhood chemistry set  has  grown  into  a  lifetime  of  achievement  in the  biological  sciences.      In  February,  the  Division of  Biology  rolled  out  the  welcome mat  for  K-State alumnus Gerald “Jerry” W. Hart, who was presented with  K-State  Alumni  Fellow  Award  by  the  K-State Alumni Association.      “Fellows were  chosen  based  on  their  high  levels of  professional  accomplishment  and  distinguished service in their respective careers,” said Jodi Weiberg, vice  president  of  alumni  programs  for  the  K-State Alumni Association.    Hart’s  accomplishments  have  granted  him  the prestigious  title  of  Director  and DeLamar  Professor of the Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  The Topeka native is only the fifth person in the history of Johns Hopkins, to hold that position.      “Jerry  Hart  is  a  terrific  example  of  the  kind  of career success that can result from graduate studies in  the  Kansas  State  University  Division  of  Biology,” said Gary Conrad, University Distinguished Professor and Professor of Biology at Kansas State.  Conrad was Hart’s PhD mentor in the mid 1970’s.    As  many  successful  people  do,  Hart  received  a great deal of support throughout the years.  Starting with  his  parents,  Hart  laughs  about  the  type  of encouragement his mother gave him as a child.  “She convinced my father to install a gas line for a Bunsen burner  into  my  bedroom  for  my  chemistry  set.    I would have never done that  for my kids,” Hart said with a chuckle.      In  addition  to  his  parents,  Hart  named  a  few other individuals that encouraged  his  scientific interests, one of them being Conrad.    “I  have  the  highest respect  for Gary Conrad.  He  is  enthusiastic  and supportive,  A  pure scientist,” Hart said.   Hart  started  working as a research technician in  Conrad’s  lab  in  1972. “Jerry was enthusiastically interested  in  everything we  were  doing  in  the lab,”  Conrad  said.    “We developed  a  synergistic relationship  and  fed  off one another’s excitement,” he added.    Admiring  Hart’s  work  ethic  and  problem  solving skills, Conrad encouraged Hart to apply to graduate school.    In 1972 Hart was accepted  to Kansas State University  Graduate  School.  After  graduation  Hart took  a  postdoctoral  position  at  Johns  Hopkins University, where he was later invited to stay on as an assistant professor.   The lessons learned while at KSU have remained with Hart to this day.  “Life is too short not to focus on  important  problems,”  Hart  said.    Conrad  taught Hart to be problem oriented not technique oriented, basically saying that  there  is more than one way to 

look at a problem and if you use  the  same  technique  you may miss something.    By  following  this  advice and  using  a  less  common technique, Hart made a unique observation.    He  observed  a type of carbohydrate, called O-GlcNAc,  is  attached  to proteins  inside  cells.    Prior to this, it was believed that these kinds of carbohydrates only existed in abundance attached  to  proteins  outside cells.    His  observation  led  to further research of key roles that  O-GlcNAC’s  location  and quantity  may  play  a  role  in the development of a few

major diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and diabetes.    While  in  Manhattan  for  the  award, Hart  took  the  chance  to  pass  on  some advice  that  he  received  throughout the  years,  to  the  next  generation  of successful  K-State  students  by  giving  a guest lecture to Conrad’s Developmental Biology  class.  Hart  presented  graduate and medical school-bound students with tips  and  tricks  for  applying  to  medical and graduate school.  

K-State Experience and Encouragement Lends Success

Gerald “Jerry” Hart, Class of 77, awarded KSU Alumni Fellow

Dr.. Gerald Hart, Class of 77, 2008 Alumni Fellow

FACT:For a KS resident, tuition & fees at KSU are $6,200 per academic year plus the cost of books and housing. (based on 14 credit hour semesters)

However, K-State is one of the lowest cost universities in the Big 12.

FACT:The average ACT composite score of KSU Biology students is 26, placing them in the 86th percentile nationally. 27% scored a 28 or higher placing them in the 95th percentile nationally. The average KSU student scored 22.8 placing them in the 68th percentile nationally.

FACT:The Division of Biology awards $110,000 in scholarships, awards, and research grants every year. However spread out over 650 students that averages only $170 per student. Hardly enough to dent the cost of tuition and fees. To attract & retain quality students we need more scholarships. www.ksu.edu/biology/makeagift.html

Sara Powell receives the Division of Biology University Distinguished Professor Scholarship

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Faculty Awards

Student Awards

  Robbie Bear,  instructor  in biology, won the William L. Stamey Award for Excellence in teaching.    Bear teaches Principles of Biology. “Why  do  I  teach?  For  the moments when students discover that they can  succeed,”  he  said,  “or  that  a few new study skills can improve their performance, or  that a  shift  in perspective produces understanding: These are the moments that motivate me as a teacher.” 

Robbie Bear

Michael Herman  Michael  Herman,  associate professor  in  biology,  has  been awarded  the  J.  William  Fulbright Foreign  Scholarship  to  collaborate with scientists  in The Netherlands at Wageningen  University  during  the Fall 2008 semester.    “I am going to go there to exchange information but also learn something. The  idea  is  to  get  new  research initiated,  learn  new  techniques  in Wageningen  and  then  bring  aspects of  that  project  back  to  continue  on here,” Herman said.

Brychta Professorships

John M. Blair,  university  distinguished professor of biology, assumes the additional title  of  the  Edwin G.  Brychta Professor  of Biology,  and  Gary W. Conrad, university distinguished professor of biology, assumes the additional title of the Lillian J. Brychta Professor of Biology.  Each  received  a  salary  supplement  and discretionary  funds  in  recognition of  their achievements and in support of their continuing research scholarship. The professorships are funded by the Brychta Endowment, which was established from proceeds of  the Edwin Brychta Trust to  the  KSU  Foundation  and  the  State  of Kansas Faculty of Distinction Program.   The endowed professorships are designed to recognize, support and retain Division of Biology  faculty  members  who  exemplify research scholarship at the highest level of achievement, and to perpetuate the names of Edwin G. Brychta and Lillian  J. Brychta, a brother and sister from Marshall County who  were  K-State  alums  and  longtime public school teachers.  “Professors  Blair  and  Conrad  are  true superstars  in  their  respective  fields.  Each is incredibly well qualified to serve K-State as  the  first  recipients  of  the  Brychta Professorship,”  said  Steve White,  dean  of K-State’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Rollie Clem

  Ruth Welti,  professor  of  biology,  has  received  the 2008  Outstanding  Senior  Scientist  Award  from  the K-State  chapter  of  Sigma  Xi,  a  scientific  research society, for her outstanding performance in scientific research.  

  Gary  Conrad,  university  distinguished  professor of  biology,  has  been  awarded  the  first  KSU  Alumni Association Iman Award for outstanding research, and KSU’s Undergraduate Mentoring in Research Award, in addition to the Brychta Professorship. 

Rollie Clem, associate professor of  molecular  biology was awarded the  Outstanding Graduate  Faculty Award by the Division of Biology Graduate Student Association. 

Undergraduate Awards

H. H. Haymaker Outstanding SeniorJenna Kennedy, microbiology, natural resources and environmental sciences and pre-medicine.

Most Promising Student AwardAleece Preston, senior in biology and pre-vet from Olathe.

Diana Hylton, senior in nutritional science from Tecumseh

Hailey Petersen, junior in microbiology from Overland Park.

Maureen Ty, junior in microbiology from Stockton, CA

Nathan Harms, senior in biology from Derby

Ryan Gallagher, junior in microbiology from Olathe.

Thomas Prebyl, senior in biology from Oketo.

H. H. Haymaker Award for Outstanding Presentation - Joseph Coolon

- Haymaker was a KSU faculty member in the Department of Botany for 40 years.  The award was established in 1975 by family.  It is given annually for an outstanding graduate student presentation by a student who has been in the Division of Biology graduate program 2 or more years or has a M.S. degree. 

James Ackert Award for Outstanding Presentation - Ashley Casey - J.E. Ackert was a long-time Dean of the Graduate School.  He was a Parasitologist in the Department of Zoology.  The award is given annually for an outstanding graduate student presentation by a student who has been in the Division of Biology graduate program less than two years. 

John Frazier Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Research in Plant Science - Jacqueline Ott - J.C. Frazier was a plant physiologist in the Department of Plant Pathology and Botany before the formation of the Division of Biology.  The endowment was established in 1976.  The award is given at the discretion of the Director of the Division of Biology based on superior graduate student research in plant science, including a presentation given at the Annual Division of Biology Graduate Research Forum.

L. Evans Roth Award for Graduate Student Research in Cellular, Molecular and Develop-mental Biology - Joseph D. Coolon

- L.E. Roth was the first Director of the Division of Biology.  This new award is given at the discretion of the Director of the Division of Biology based on superior graduate student research in cell, molecular or developmental biology, including a presentation given at the Annual Division of Biology Graduate Research Forum. 

Chris Edler Award for Outstanding Research on Konza - Page Klug - Established in 1993 for C. Edler who died while he was a graduate student in the Division.  Awarded annually to a graduate student who has an outstanding record as a graduate student teacher and has performed superior research and service on Konza Prairie.  The student must give a presentation at the Biology Graduate Research Forum in the year the award is given.

Michael Scott Watkins Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching - Lance Thurlow  - Established in 1974 for M.S. Watkins, a deceased graduate student. Awarded annually to a graduate student who excels in her/his teaching responsibilities.

Graduate Awards

Gary Conrad

Ruth Welti

Walter Dodds presents Page Klug with the Edler Award

Rollie Clem accepts Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award from Lance Thurlow

Associate Dean Beth Montelone presents Jenna Kennedy with Haymaker Award

  Biological  and  medical  advances  have profound effects on our lives. Just a century ago  Kansans  had  to  face  the  prospects  of shorter life spans, high rates of deaths due to  infectious  diseases,  and  shortages  of food. Today many of  those problems have been alleviated,  thanks  to basic biological, biomedical and agricultural research carried out at universities like K-State.  There  is a common thread  linking  these disparate research areas, and that thread is  the  theory  of  evolution.  Evolutionary thinking  influences  all  aspects  of  research in  the  life  sciences,  and predictions  based on  evolutionary  theory  are  made  (and vindicated)  every  day  in  thousands  of laboratories  around  the  world.  As  the famous  geneticist  Theodosius  Dobzhansky said,  “Nothing  in  biology  makes  sense except in the light of evolution”. Unfortunately much of the American public has a limited or confused understanding  of  evolution,  and  its  place in modern biological research. The National Academy  of  Sciences  and  the  Institute  of Medicine, the premier scientific and medical organizations  in  the  USA,  have  attempted to  remedy  that  with  the  publication  of  a booklet  entitled  “Science,  Evolution  and Creationism”.   Noted biologists and physicians, headed by  geneticist  and  philosopher  Francisco Ayala, have written this brief but thorough booklet  in  the  hope  of  fostering  a  better understanding  of  evolution  and  its  role in  biological,  biomedical  and  agricultural research. You can download a PDF version of the booklet for free at the NAS website (http://www.pnas.org/content/105/1/3.extract). If this topic interests you, or if you want to learn more about evolution and its place  in modern science, you should get a copy, read it, and pass it around to friends and  family.  Contributed by Dave Rintoul, Associate Director

Evolutionary Thinking

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Move over chalkboards and overheads,  a  different  format for  teaching  is  successful  in  the classroom.  According  to  data  released  in the 2008 summer issue of Cell Biology  Education  --  A  Journal  of Life Science Education, the studio format  is an effective method for teaching students  in principles of biology, an introductory course in the Division of Biology. The studio format uses computer  simulations,  teamwork with  peers,  scientific  equipment, hands-on lab experiments, studio manuals and mini lectures by faculty  at  the  beginning  and end of the class period to teach students.   The  assessment,  written  by Division of Biology professors Beth Montelone,  principles  of  biology restructuring  committee  chair; David Rintoul, senior coordinator of  the  studio  format;  and  Larry W i l l i a m s , coordinator of the  course’s previous audio-tutorial  (AT) format, evaluates data collected since the course’s conversion to a studio format in 1997 and compares the studio to other teaching  format options.  “A  committee was appointed to  investigate all  possibilities and all concepts to teach introductory  biology,”  said Montelone, who is also associate

dean  of  K-State’s College  of  Arts  and Sciences.  “The  investigation took a year and the physical and course content revisions took another year, but principles  of  biology became  the  first studio approach to introductory biology nationally.” The previous format, audio-tutorial, was an isolated and self-driven approach. Students listened to  audiotapes  during  class  and followed  along  in  the  book  and lab manual, while performing  lab experiments by themselves, thus limiting  student  and  instructor interaction.   The  studio  format  encourages student  attendance,  interaction and  teamwork  while  providing  a variety of resources that cater to all  four  different  learning  styles: 

audio,  reading/writing, visual and kinesthetic.  “Whatever the student’s  preferred learning style,  they can find  it  --  and  even  if they  aren’t  aware  that they have a preferred learning  style,  we  give them so many choices

that it makes it a lot more feasible for them to learn effectively,” she said.  In  a  post-test  evaluation, students from the studio format rated  their  skills  in  “doing experiments”  and  “working  with others” higher than students from the audio-tutorial format, while audio-tutorial students rated skills higher  for  “writing  lab  reports.” The data concluded that there are fewer  students  failing  the  course and fewer students formally withdrawing  from  the  course under the studio format compared to the audio-tutorial format. Montelone said that the principles  of  biology  studio format also offers some important advantages.  Unlike  a  traditional lecture/lab  format  where  one faculty  member  runs  a  500-seat lecture  and  graduate  teaching assistants  attend  to  the  labs, students  in  principles  of  biology are  taught  in  a  smaller  studio format twice a week by teams of two faculty members and two graduate  teaching  assistants  for each of the eight to 10 sections of the course offered a semester.  “Faculty  time  is  a  lot  more expensive than graduate teaching assistant time, so the fact that we are  using many  faculty members to teach this intro course shows you how important we think it is,” Montelone said. 

  Each  year,  as  many  as  3  million people around the world die from malaria -- most of them children under the age of 5.  That’s  why  biology  researcher Kristin Michel  says  it’s  so  important to  remain  vigilant  in  searching  for ways to defeat the disease.  “The  disease  is  literally  taking away the future in some parts of the world,” she said.  In  her  quest  against  malaria, Michel  has  been  studying  ways  to modify  the way mosquitoes  handle the parasite that causes the disease before  transmitting  it  to  humans. Michel, who joined K-State in fall 2007, is an assistant professor. Malaria is a vector-borne disease, meaning  it  is  caused  by  a  parasite transmitted from human to human by 

a carrier -- in this case the Anopheles mosquito.  With  most  vector-borne diseases, the vector is able to carry  the  disease-causing  organism without  being  afflicted.  In  fact,  the mosquito  is  critical  to  the  parasite’s proper development.  In order for the organism to become infectious to the human host, development within the mosquito  for  as  many  as  two  weeks must take place.  “Malaria  is  transmitted  from mosquito to human to mosquito, and so  on,”  Michel  said.  “The  parasite is taken up in a blood meal and goes  into  the  mosquito’s  gut.  From there,  it travels from the gut  into the circulatory system and on into the mosquito’s  salivary  glands,  where it  is  transmitted  to  another  human. The hope is that we can interrupt this

process  somewhere  along  the way to inhibit transmission.”  Michel  has  been  studying how malaria interacts with the mosquito’s tissues and immune system in search of a weak link to exploit. Her most recent focus has been a set of proteins called serpins  that  regulate  how  the mosquito’s  immune  system  responds to  the  parasite.  Michel  found  that when a mosquito lacks this particular set of proteins it affects the amount of parasite  found  in  the mosquito’s  gut and salivary tissues.  “These serpins are potential targets for  new  intervention  strategies,” Michel said.  Via gene manipulation, researchers could  breed  a  variety  of  mosquito lacking  the  ability  to  effectively 

transmit the parasite. A drug to cure the mosquito  of  the  parasite  could also be created, she said. Michel says her work in this area could  potentially  translate  to  other diseases  because  “nature  doesn’t start  completely  over  every  time.” She said findings could be applied to both human and animal health.   Michel received her PhD from the University of California at Riverside and joined the K-State faculty in 2007. 

Malaria Research at the Molecular Level

Mosquitoes in Michel’s Lab

Current set-up of Principles of Biology Studio Format Classroom

Student listens to the audio tape during lab in the AT format

Students studying displays in the AT Format

Assessment Shows Studio Format Effective for Learning

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Ecological Genomics Symposium, InterContinental Hotel on the Plaza, Kansas CityDate: November 14-16, 2008 http://ecogen.ksu.edu/

6th Annual K-INBRE Symposium, Manhattan, KSDate: January 17-18, 2009 http://www.kumc.edu/kinbre/symposium.html

Arthropod Genomics Symposium, Marriott in Downtown Kansas CityDate: June 11-14, 2009 http://www.k-state.edu/agc/symposium.shtml

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Embryo of a Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle)