A Biology Summer 2022
Students of Summer 2022
The Tick Lab Out in the Field
This summer is all about ticks! Student interns, Sophia Chiaia and Lin Vitarbo, are working on our CDC deer exclusion tick study.
Our Research Focus:
Preventing Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections in Connecticut and throughout the northeastern United States. Specifically, we are interested in how individuals and communities can protect themselves from tickborne illnesses, either via personal behaviors or by manipulating the environment. Our focus is primarily upon blacklegged ticks, and we also monitor tick populations at multiple locations to identify and track emerging tick species.
Undergraduate Research Assistant at Yale School of Medicine
Amiyah Buan, the Media Assistant for the Department of Biology, is spending her summer in the Center of Neurostimulation in Epilepsy at Yale School of Medicine. She is participating in studies involving novel neurostimulation devices that treat those diagnosed with epilepsy.
Amiyah (’24) is pursuing her Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry and hopes to pursue an MD PhD in Neuroscience.
Copperhead Snakes in CT
Graduate student, Andrew Powers, leads and educates our undergraduate students on Copperhead snakes as they embark on a snake monitoring trip. Yes! They are venomous and camouflage well – venture with curiosity and caution.
Can you guess how long a Copperhead Snake is?
Here are our undergraduate students measuring one of these beautiful and fascinating species.
Summer at WCSU includes some anatomy and physiology fun!
Our A&PII summer students in action at the lab.
Have you ever wanted a hands-on experience while learning about the anatomical and physiological mysteries of humans? Don’t have the time during normal school sessions? WCSU is a great institution and offers unique opportunities to pursue an interactive and informative biology class.
Dr. Krell at the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary for her insect biodiversity and meadow restoration research.
Insects collected from a malaise trap over a one-week time-period in a meadow
Our NOAA Finding Our Way SWSA collaborated with HVA Connections and DYS to remove invasive aquatic plants in Lake Kenosia.
Dr. Kristin Giamanco, Associate Professor, and Alex Camejo, of MicroOptics, working in the microscope facility (Science Building 208). This facility houses 5 fluorescence microscopes with high-quality cameras to capture cell and tissue samples. In addition, these systems can snap images using transmitted light. This equipment supports both teaching and research needs throughout the department.
Summer of Climate Change Education
Students in Bio 150 Science of Climate Change, plotting on Earth’s timeline the appearance of the Ediacaran fauna.
Here is our gal Charlee Cordle (recipient of the 2022 MSAS ASCSA Scholarship) on her way to the island of Thassos Greece! Can’t wait till we hear all about her visit to the Land of the Gods!
Kendall O’Connell & Fox Behavior
Our goal is to create a framework to understand grey fox behavior in a major metropolitan area in Miami, Fl. Hopefully as we collect more data, the focus will shift to seeing trends of how certain features like disturbances, both natural (i.e. hurricanes) and manmade (i.e. new developments) might influence behavior over time.
Cyanobacteria & Wong Lab
Shafaq Hashmi prepares samples to test for microcystin cyanotoxin in lake water as part of the Wong Lab Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program.