Biology students, professors present research at national conference

Five undergraduate students and three professors from the biology department at Westminster College presented their research at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, from Jan. 3-7.

SICB fosters research, education, public awareness and understanding of living organisms from molecules and cells to ecology and evolution. This meeting attracted more than 1,000 national and international delegates who presented a wide range of research topics.

Lindsey Wheaton, a senior from New Castle, Pa., presented results of a study examining the effects of the plasticizer bisphenol F on visual system development in zebrafish. Mia Greco, a senior from New Castle, Pa., presented her research examining the effects of ibuprofen exposure on visual system development. Caroline Fox, a junior from Acton, Calif., presented findings from a study examining how paraben exposure affects early development in fish. This research was performed in collaboration with Dr. Marosh Furimsky, associate professor of biology, and supported by the Van Vranken Summer Research Fund, the Dietz Sullivan Summer Research Fund and the Drinko Summer Research Fund at Westminster College.

Jimmy Oberlin, a senior from Dubois, Pa., presented his research characterizing the musculature of the gill arch of paddlefish. This study was performed with Dr. John Robertson, associate professor of biology.

Madelyn Scarmack, a junior from Sharon, Pa., presented her research examining the effect of beta-alanine on the rate of wound healing and limb regeneration in axolotls. Scarmack’s work was done with Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett, associate professor of biology, and supported by the Dietz Sullivan Summer Research Fund.

Students were able to attend the meeting through the support of the Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research, the Spencer-Davis Fund and the Honors Program at Westminster College, as well as the Charlotte Mangum Support Award from the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

For more information about Westminster College’s biology program, click here.

Pictured above, from left to right, are Lindsey Wheaton, Carolyn Fox, Madelyn Scarmack, Mia Greco and Jimmy Oberlin.

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