BioFeedback

The Annual Newsletter of the Andrews University Biology Department

Online Edition

Autumn 2003

 

BioFeedback

Biology Department

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, MI 49104-0410

BIOLOGY@andrews.edu

http://www.andrews.edu/biology

Editor: H. Thomas Goodwin

Layout & Design: David A. Steen

 

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NEW BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCES PROGRAM FUNDED

 

Andrews University was recently awarded a 5 year, $490,000 grant to implement a new, interdisciplinary program in behavioral neurosciences. This collaborative program, which began October 1, involves faculty and coursework in biology, behavioral sciences, and mathematics. “The future for students with interdisciplinary training in human behavior is full of opportunities,” notes John Stout, AU biologist and principal investigator for the project, “particularly with the dramatic growth in understanding how the brain affects behavior.” All students will take a common core of courses, move into one of three areas of specialization (biology, psychology, or mathematics), and engage in original faculty-mentored research.

The student development component of the behavioral neurosciences program is modeled after a program implemented in Biology with generous alumni support–early identification of research interest in first year labs, close mentoring by faculty in the field of interest, courses that prepare students for engagement in specialized research, and full involvement in research as upper division students. “What we have been doing in biology is transformational. Students are doing significantly better than predicted based on incoming test scores,” notes Stout. “Building on this experience is what the reviewers of our proposal particularly noticed.”

The behavioral neurosciences program builds on long-standing and emerging strengths at AU. Both biology and behavioral sciences have long track records of active faculty research involving undergraduates, and are obviously central to the study of human behavior. What about math? “The math component in the biology and psychology fields was viewed as a strong plus in our proposal,” says Gordon Atkins, AU neurobiologist. “Aspects of both neurophysiology and behavior are modeled with mathematics. Thus we provide a strong ‘state of the art’ option for majors in these fields.” Indeed, collaborative behavioral research involving AU math and biology faculty was recently funded with another significant grant (see “Happenings” article).

The AU proposal was funded through a congressionally mandated initiative administered by the National Science Foundation. This initiative is designed to increase the number of students going into the so-called “STEM fields” of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with special emphasis on recruiting underrepresented groups. Again, AU stands out. “We’re graduating far more minority students in the sciences than typical nationally,” says Stout. Funding will support equipment purchases, course development, student research stipends, and hiring a new faculty member with strengths in research psychology.

 

 

ROOSENBERG FAMILY LONG TERM PARTICIPANTS IN AU SCIENCE

 

 

John and Ann (Eastman) Roosenberg have long-term ties to science programs at AU. Both studied here in the late 1960s, with John completing a BS in Chemistry (1970) before studying medicine at Loma Linda University. Ann finished her Medical Technology degree at Loma Linda.

 

Though they were not biology majors, both John and Ann took several biology classes, including microbiology, which they studied together. Both also worked for the department, with Ann working 3 years under Professor Harold Heidtke and John doing museum work for one summer and academic year. As part of this work, John prepared and mounted museum specimens, cleaned numerous monkey skulls collected during earlier South American trips, and collected and mounted plants. He especially remembers preparing several loons picked up after a massive local die-off. “They were hard to make into a good prep,” he recalls, “with their thick layer of fat.”

 

Plant-collecting played another important role in the Roosenberg family. John and Ann married soon after John graduated in 1970. In order to fund their honeymoon, they took a contract with the AU herbarium to collect and press plants during their travels to British Columbia and back! As John recalls, “I think we ended up making slightly more than we spent.”

 

John completed his studies at LLU, did an internship and residency in internal medicine, then took up practice in Allegan, Michigan, where the family has lived ever since. After living in southern California for several years, Ann recalls that “We were looking for a place to go that had seasons.” Michigan fit the bill.

 

Despite an active practice, the Roosenberg’s love for science was never lost and appears to have infected most of the younger members of the clan! In fact, four of five Roosenberg children subsequently studied science at Andrews University. John II completed a BS in chemistry before going on to do a Ph.D. at Notre Dame, and Joann received a BS in biochemistry before doing a masters in nutrition. The two youngest Roosenbergs, Amy and Carrie, are currently studying biology as a senior and freshman, respectively, with Carrie also minoring in mathematics. Amy plans to enter graduate school next fall.

 

And the circle comes ‘round. Amy, like her father, has worked in the AU museum. One of her tasks was to develop a new display–as luck would have it–about loons, very likely using some of the specimens prepared by her dad, years before, while working in the same capacity. Amy also helped organize a spring “museum cleanup day” last April, during which AU faculty and community members worked together to spruce up displays, renovate cabinets, etc. Not surprisingly, two of the most faithful participants were... John and Ann Roosenberg (or Dad and Mom, depending on one’s point of reference).

 

 

 

 

STUDENT WORKERS ESSENTIAL TO BIOLOGY

 

Many AU biology students do more than learn–they actively participate in the work of the Biology Department. In fact, about 30 students currently work in the department doing tasks as diverse as watering plants, grading papers, helping with labs, and in some cases taking significant responsibility for teaching. “This work is crucial to the operation of the department,” says David Steen, department chair. “Without their help we simply could not perform all the tasks that are required to do our jobs adequately.”

The benefits are reciprocal. “I observe remarkable growth in their people skills, their ability to shoulder responsibility, and their attention to detail,” notes Steen. Christina Burden, junior biology major and this year’s Foundations of Biology lab coordinator, agrees. “As a future professor, jumping into the job early gives me lots of experience. It’s also rewarding to build relationships with people I otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to touch for Christ.”

 

For students like Christina, who take positions as lab coordinators, responsibilities are significant and take time. Moon-Young Choi, biology graduate student and coordinator of Anatomy and Physiology labs, notes the tasks he takes on weekly: ordering and assembling of necessary supplies and materials, making sure the procedure and methodology are clearly understood, interacting with students in an approachable way, and so forth. “It’s a big job,” notes Anatomy and Physiology teacher, Tom Goodwin.

Over the past 10 years or so, the Biology Department has recognized particular students by nominating them for the DeHaan Work Excellence Award for outstanding service in the workplace. All nominees receive a $100 scholarship, and those selected as final awardees receive a significantly larger amount (typically about $1,000). Biology final awardees since 1993 are listed in the adjacent table. A big, belated “thank you” to each of them for the important responsibilities they shouldered while studying biology at AU!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN BIOLOGY

 

What have AU biologists been up to during the past year? In addition to the regular routine, here are a few tidbits.

 

Rob Zdor was awarded $65,000 from the U. S. Department of Agriculture to continue his study of a particular type of soil bacteria (Pseudomonas putida) as a biological control agent. “This grant extends the use of molecular biology tools to the study of this organism and its potential as a weed biocontrol,” notes Zdor, who has been studying potential biocontrol of the velvetleaf weed for the past 12 years.

 

Jim Hayward and mathematician Shandelle Henson received a grant for $304,000 from the National Science Foundation, Division of Mathematical Sciences, for a study that develops and tests mathematical models for the prediction of habitat occupancies by marine birds and mammals. “I’ve always viewed interdisciplinary questions to be the most fascinating,” says Hayward. Henson agrees. “What ones could be more fun than proving theorems between bird counts while perched on a cliff overlooking the sea?”

 

Dennis Woodland is coordinating a four member team in a plant biodiversity survey of an important habitat region in Cass County, Michigan, with significant funding from the Edward Lowe Foundation (~ $35,000 over three years). In addition, Woodland’s graduate student, Ellery Troyer, has received significant funding (two years, $14,500 per year channeled through Fernwood Botanical Garden) from the Hanes Trust Foundation of Kalamazoo to conduct a baseline biodiversity study at Fernwood. Woodland was also recognized with this year’s Distinguished Service Award by the Michigan Botanical Club, noting his long-term (nearly 24 years!) and enthusiastic engagement with the Club and its plant preservation mission.

 

Gordon Atkins was named Honors Director in July, replacing long-term director Malcolm Russell who took a position at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. It’s a big job–coordinating the SAGES program (an alternative general education program for Honors students), extracurricular Honors activities, student research and funding, etc. “I am a product of the AU honors program,” says Atkins. “I want to continue this experience for others.” Two of his primary goals are to enhance the research component in honors and encourage more active engagement in service.

 

 

Tom Goodwin spent several weeks this summer with a team of geologists and paleontologists studying fossil whales in the arid western desert of Peru. Goodwin was amazed. “I’ve never seen more impressive fossils firsthand in my life. Some whales were almost perfectly preserved, complete with the filter-feeding apparatus in place in the mouth!” He reports seeing dozens of well preserved whales across a significant geographic area. “There are some genuine puzzles here, figuring out what led to this accumulation of well preserved fossils.” Goodwin spent the rest of the summer teaching paleobiology at the Walla Walla College Marine Station.

 

Three AU biologists, faculty John Stout and Tom Goodwin and graduate student Rahel Schafer, gave presentations at a special Faith and Science Conference held at Glacier View Ranch in Colorado this past August. Stout and Schafer reflected on their experiences as teacher and student, respectively, in these important areas, whereas Goodwin gave a presentation on Adventist thought and the fossil record. The Glacier View conference was the second of three in a church-wide effort to dialog about the challenges and opportunities faced by the Seventh-day Adventist Church at the interface of science and faith.

 

Bill Chobotar was recently asked to participate in a study of a specialized organelle, the apicoplast, found in the parasitic genus Eimeria. Chobotar will do the ultrastructural component of the study, with colleagues Patricia Allen and Raymond Fetterer of the U. S. Department of Agriculture carrying out biochemical assays. This organelle is common in plants and has recently been found in two other parasitic genera.

 

 

CHOBOTAR COMPLETES 13TH YEAR AS EDITOR

If Bill Chobotar isn’t busily preparing to teach, or meeting with one of his scores of advisees, or carrying out other full-time commitments, he may well be holed up in the back of his office with a stack of manuscripts submitted to Parasitology Research, one of the premier journals concerned with the scientific study of parasites. Parasitology Research is an international journal, more than 80 years old, published by the Springer-Verlag company in Heidelberg Germany. Chobotar is one of two editors for this prestigious journal. Currently the other editor is Professor Heinz Mehlhorn of the University of Duesseldorf. The two editors work with an editorial board of 26 other scientists.

 

Chobotar has been editor for thirteen years–since 1990–although he joined the editorial board even earlier (1985). “We have gotten high marks from authors for quick turnaround time for the review process and publication,” says Chobotar. Indeed most accepted papers are published within 8-12 months of submission. “That’s very fast in comparison to other journals that may take 2-3 years.”

 

The dedication to fast, effective processing of manuscripts takes time. “Editorial duties take up about 30% of my time,” estimates Chobotar. Particularly challenging times are holidays, when it can be difficult to locate appropriate referees for the papers. It can also be challenging to work out what to do when two referees give very different opinions about a particular manuscript. This requires locating a third referee who can help break the tie. Chobotar notes some comical moments. “Sometimes I have to deal with irate authors who claim that the referee is a complete idiot, and does not understand this beautiful research. What is funny is that these referees sometimes are close colleagues of the authors who are completely anonymous in the review process!”

 

“On a personal note,” says Chobotar, “this job has been a wonderful experience, in that it keeps me in touch with the growing edge of parasitological research.” Andrews students obtain important benefits as well, as noted by former parasitology student, Smruti Damania. “Dr. Chobotar was very knowledgeable and up to date in this field. I am privileged to have been taught by a teacher of his experience.” A “win” for everyone involved!

 

 

SCIENCE COMPLEX ENTRYWAY RENOVATED

For many years, the central focus of Adventist science education was “written in stone” in large, brass letters ringing the entryway to the science complex. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And without him was not any thing made that was made.” Alas, years of foot traffic polished these letters so that when wet or icy, they were a genuine safety concern. As part of much-needed renovation of the crumbling entryway, paid for largely by generous biology alumni, the words had to go. But not the philosophy!

Indeed, current plans envision a large glass atrium at the front of the Science Complex, with these passages incorporated into the architectural design. Such an atrium would serve important functions for the Science Complex. “This would provide a much needed commons area, meeting area, and give a sense of having arrived once you step into it,” says David Steen, chair of biology. “Currently, all exterior doors lead into stairwells and endless hallways evocative of a complex maze. Even repeat visitors have difficulty finding their way around.” Expect to hear more as these plans develop!

 

 

CALLING SONGS

Pam Anderson (BS Biology, 1970), MD, is an internist with Kaiser Fontana in California. She enjoys skiing, snowboarding, and music (piano, flute, and saxophone) with her three children while still finding time to maintain a 150-tree orange grove!

 

Hugh Caggiano (BA Biology, 1969), MD, works in diagnostic radiology with Spectrum Medical Group in Bangor, Maine. He and his wife, Patricia, have two teen age sons. Caggiano reports an active lifestyle including cycling, skiing, and hockey!

 

Calvin Hill (BS Biology, 1972), MD, practices medicine in Oregon but thinks of himself as a “biologist who specializes in Homo sapiens.” Hill reports on his passion for birding and on a recent trip to the Bering Sea, “the ultimate pelagic trip.”

 

Toby J. Imler (BS Biology, 1974), DDS, MPH, retired as a captain in 2001 from the U. S. Public Health Service. He currently teaches dental hygiene at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

 

Koheleth Mujaga Katondo (BA Zoology, 1963), M.Sc., appreciates receiving BioFeedback in Nairobi, Kenya! Now retired, Katonda enjoys reading in his leisure time.

 

Philip A. Lewis (MA Biology, 1966) is retired from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency although he still serves as a part-time consultant with the EPA and with the Great Lakes Environmental Center in Traverse City, Michigan. Lewis is recognized as a world authority on the mayfly genus, Stenonema.

 

Clyde Roggenkamp (BA Zoology, 1963), DDS, is an Associate Professor in the School of Dentistry at Loma Linda University. He continues active educational interests, and is about one-half way through a Masters in Public Health in diet and nutrition at LLU. Roggenkamp serves as secretary-treasurer of the American Board of Operative Dentistry.