Suter Science Seminar Archives - EMU News

Spring ’23 Suter Science Seminars explore cell biology, emotions and communication, behavioral health

EMU Communications — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 19:56:18 +0000

This semester’s Suter Science Seminar lineup at ��ݮ�� (EMU) includes three biologists, a psychologist, and a registered nurse.

The events will be held in Swartzendruber Hall of the Suter Science Center, and will be live streamed for the off-campus community on the . [You do not need to be a member of Facebook to view the livestream.]

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 4 p.m. — “Multiple Roles for UNC-53/NAV2 in Axonal Guidance, Intracellular Trafficking, and Innate Immunity” with Dr. Kristopher Schmidt, associate professor of biology at ��ݮ��.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 4 p.m. — “Phycosphere Interactions: Novel Insights into Harmful Algal Bloom Dynamics” with Dr. Morgan Steffen and Dr. Louie Wurch, associate professors of biology at James Madison University.

Wednesday, March 1, 4 p.m. — “If You Say it Loud Enough: Exploring Emotional Arousal in Learning and Communication” with Dr. Allison Wilck, associate professor and program director of psychology at EMU.

Wednesday, March 22, 4 p.m. — “Pediatric Behavioral Health: Strategy to Improve Access and Care” with Dr. Anne Brenneman, director of the University Health Center at James Madison University.

The lectures are made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs.

Named in honor of long-time EMU biology professor, Daniel B. Suter (1920-2006), the Endowment in Biology was established in 1986 through the generous donations of alumni and friends and currently consists of over $1 million of invested funds. EMU hopes to double the Suter Endowment in order to more adequately support distinguished faculty and to increase scholarship aid to deserving students.

Homecoming and Family Weekend 2022: A ‘Roaring’ Success (we love you, Herm!)

Lauren Jefferson — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 18:42:37 +0000

EMU students, faculty, staff, family, friends and alumni gathered for the annual three-day celebration of all things Royal — and all the things that make EMU such a special place! Reuniting with hugs and smiles and catching up on the latest life news were the main events at our 2022 Homecoming and Family Weekend — but we also know folks enjoyed the blockbuster talent , great food, and perfect fall weather.

The work of many months came to fruition for Jennifer North Bauman, director of alumni and parent engagement. “This annual celebration of Royal pride is the culmination of lots of planning and contributions from around campus,” she said. “We’re more than thrilled with the turnout and all the fun I saw people having at so many of the events.”

Alumni from 26 states (Pennsylvania logged the best attendance behind Virginia four from California came the furthest) and three countries (Brazil, Canada, and South Korea) made their way to Harrisonburg for the three-day event.

The Jubilee Alumni Gathering, of those graduating 50 years ago or more, drew more than 100 folks.

Here’s a few more highlights in no particular order:

One art show: view an exhibit by ‘19 graduate Derrick Chirinos through Nov. 11 in the Margaret Martin Gehman gallery;

One big banquet for our donors, with thanks to stellar student storytellers sharing the impact of donor giving on their lives and education: Meredith Lehman, sophomore, double major in biology and political science, from Dover, Ohio; Alijah Johnson, senior digital media and communications major from Camp Springs, Maryland; Ella Brubaker, sophomore double major in history and political science, from Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Amarea Witt, second year MS in biomedicine student from St. Paul, Minnesota; and Kimberly Shank, third year dual degree MA in counseling and Master in Divinity student from Mount Solon, Virginia.

Two concerts (thanks, Ryan Kauffman ‘97 and Girl Named Tom) plus several ensembles gathered for shorter performances over the weekend;

Lots of food — Those food trucks at the Fall Festival were amazing (how did you decide what to eat?)! Pioneer College Catering’s Bruce Emmerson, Shannon Grinnan, Darren Campbell and their crew logged 789.25 hours total working 15 events, serving 918 catered meals PLUS served 1,766 in the dining hall.

Athletics! The men’s and women’s cross country teams each came away with individual and team victories at the Golden Acorn Invitational. Field hockey beat Bridgewater 3-2 and men’s soccer came away with a hard-fought tie against Virginia Wesleyan. Women’s soccer lost a tough game to Washington and Lee, while just up the road at the baseball complex, the traditional intra-squad rivalry of the Blue-Black World Series entertained fans and community members. See news coverage at .

Kirby Dean, Lisa Lee Senger and Mike Downey. (Photo by Bryan Luna)

Hall of Honor inductions for the 2010 basketball team (head coach Kirby Dean ’92 and former player George Johnson ’11 were in attendance) and Lisa Lee Senger ’10. A Distinguished Service Award went to former athletic trainer Mike Downey.

Some fabulous learning opportunities with our alumni:

TenTalks featured WNBA Director of Officials Sue Blauch ‘86, Harrisonburg, Va.; Jered Lyons ‘08, Silver Spring, Md., director of athletics and basketball coach at Washington Adventist University; and Dr. Todd Weaver ‘87, orthodontist and distance runner.

Erika Gascho ’10, Heidi Bowman Byler ’04, Justin King ’12, and Shannon Roth ’07 spoke about restorative justice in education.

Nathan Hershberger ’12 presented to Haverim.

Amy Rosenberger ‘85, Alum of the Year, was the featured guest at the history, political science and pre-law gathering.

Marshall King ‘92 presented on his book “Disarmed,” the story of Michael “MJ” Sharp ’05.

Dr. Rolando L. Santiago ‘79 gave a Suter Science Seminar.

One BIG ANNIVERSARY!

Y-Serve/YPCA, EMU’s longest-serving student organization, celebrated its centennial during Homecoming Week with a chapel service and an affinity gathering. The audience at Sunday’s Homecoming worship service were witness to a special commemorative event. In 1972, when YCPA commemorated its 50th anniversary, the organization’s first president J. Paul Souder returned to participate in a sacred ritual. He passed a pitcher — symbolizing anointing of God’s blessing (Joel 2:17) for the continued ministry/service of YPCA — to then president Jim Musser ‘75. Musser returned on Sunday to reenact the ritual with current co-president Halie Mast and communications coordinator Kara Kornhaus.

And finally, recognition for our alumni award recipients, who each spoke at Sunday’s worship service on the theme of belonging.

Amy Rosenberger, Dr. Joseph Gascho, and Camila Pandolfi with their commemorative clocks. (Photo by Bryan Luna)

Here’s the with time marks if you’d like to watch each speech:

Camila Pandolfi (28:30) speaks on her work as an educator with students and teachers in the dual language program in Harrisonburg City Schools and how creating a sense of belonging and building intentional relationships with and between educators and students leads to success for new English learners.

Being a teacher, I believe, is synonymous with creating a sense of belonging in ourselves and our students…Connection, service, courage, but mostly belonging is why we choose this demanding intricate vocation. No we’re not in it for the money, We are in it for the opportunity to impact so many hearts, nourish their minds and create a belonging space for ourselves and our beloved students, year after year.

Amy Rosenberger (34:40) speaks about advocating for employees as a labor and union attorney:

When employees join together, it is all about working for workplace justice — in their own particular workplace but in the greater society at large. They become a part of something bigger than themselves and it’s empowering … What is most rewarding for me is when I see someone grow to a regular rank and file worker to take on a leadership role in their workplace or more broadly, and learn about the structures that are available, their rights as workers and how to support and advocate for their coworkers on the job. I get to have a little part in that, I’d like to think, whether it’s leading a workshop that they worker attended early on or advising them about how to advocate for coworkers or or how to negotiate for fair working conditions…my connection is … about working for justice and valuing all work, not just what our society tells us is valuable about professions or what it means to be successful.

Dr. Joseph Gascho (41:00) shares about how important cultivation of belonging is. He named those who had mentored him: Dr. Richard Crampton, in medical school and beyond; Kimberly Myers, who holds a doctorate in literature and encouraged his poetry writing; and EMU Professor Emeritus Howard Zehr, also a photographer.

Such people have played critical roles in making me feel like I belong, and that’s a role each of us can play…those of you who teach, please remember how important it is to make your students feel like they belong. That student who asksa a dumb question may be on to something; she may go seomday on to win a Nobel Prize with your encouragement.

Gascho’s unique artistic lens includes the theme of belonging within the hierarchical institution of the medical center, where “the vital infrastructure of employees is ignored” and patients are viewed clinically. Watch his address for a few samples of his photos and listen as he concludes with a poem. Find more on his website.

Thanks to our sponsors!

Fall Suter Science Seminars focus on health, biology, disease ecology

EMU Communications — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 19:33:51 +0000

This semester’s Suter Science Seminar lineup at ��ݮ�� include professionals working in disease ecology, behavioral health and crisis services, animal health, and biology.

The events will be held in Swartzendruber Hall of the Suter Science Center, and will be livestreamed for the off-campus community on the . [You do not need to be a member of Facebook to view the livestream.]

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 4 p.m. “Emerging Vector-borne Disease in the Commonwealth” with Dr. Gillian Eastwood, assistant professor of vector-borne disease ecology in the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech.

Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m. “Building-up the Behavioral Health System in a Time of Crisis: Opportunities and Challenges” with Dr. Rolando L. Santiago, chief of behavioral health and crisis services for the Department of Health and Human Services in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 4 p.m. “Count Up: My Reflections on Science, Industry, and Life…” with Raul E. Diaz Lugo, global quality lead for Merck, Animal Health North America.

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m. “Characterization of Sensory Driven Intrinsic Iris Constriction in Mammals” Dr. Marquis Walker, assistant professor of biology at James Madison University.

The lectures are made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs.

UVA professor to give talk on cervical cancer elimination strategies in low- and middle-income countries

EMU Communications — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 12:42:00 +0000

Dr. Emma Mitchell will present the final Suter Science Seminar this semester, “Cervical Cancer as a Cancer of Disparities: Innovative Technology on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua for Health Equity Through a Community-based Participatory Process,” on Wednesday, April 6, at 4 p.m. Mitchell is an associate professor and director of global initiatives at the University of Virginia School of Nursing.

The campus community is invited to attend the seminar in person in Room 106 of the Suter Science Center. The seminar will be livestreamed on the .

The seminars are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs.

Mitchell will present a case study of a long-term collaboration for cervical cancer control on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua. Her work centers on the feasibility of this in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). She argues that the 10-year cervical cancer elimination strategy set by the World Health Organization “can only be successful at the intersection of innovative technology and community-based participatory processes, in order to work toward health equity.”

“Though highly preventable, about 85% of the burden of cervical cancer persists in LMICs,” Mitchell says. “Caused by high-risk genotypes of the Human Papillomavirus (hrHPV), cervical cancer can be prevented through safe and effective vaccination, screening for hrHPV, and effective treatment of pre-cancerous/cancerous lesions.”

Mitchell completed her BSN at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and earned her PhD in Nursing Science at the University of Virginia. Her scholarship centers on cervical cancer as a cancer of disparities. In collaboration with long-term community partners both in far Southwest Virginia and in Nicaragua and Honduras, Mitchell has researched integration of innovative technology to increase access to cervical cancer screening and treatment.

JMU biology chair to speak on RNA research

EMU Communications — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 11:27:35 +0000

Casonya Johnson PhD, chair of the department of biology at James Madison University, will give this spring’s second Suter Science Seminar on Wednesday, February 2, at 4 p.m., titled “Mechanisms of Transcriptional Repression in the Roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans.” Johnson’s research is currently funded by the National Science Foundation, and has previously been funded by the National Institutes of Health and by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

In her seminar, Johnson will present on the most recent research in her laboratory, where she uses “molecular genetics, biochemistry, and mathematical biology to understand the basic mechanism by which cells produce RNA,” Johnson says.

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the . The campus community is invited to attend the seminars in person in room 106 of the Suter Science Center.

Prior to working at JMU, Johnson served as a program director in the Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Division at the NSF, and as an associate professor at Georgia State University. Her interest in pursuing genetics stemmed from transmission of deafness and hearing loss in her family. Johnson has also created and led workshops for middle- and high-school teachers interested in incorporating genetics laboratories into their classes.

JMU archaeologist to present on area Native American communities and environmental change

admin — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 13:18:00 +0000

Dr. Carole Nash will present the first Suter Science Seminar of 2022, “Telling Time with Historical Ecology: Native American Communities in a Changing Shenandoah Valley Environment,” on January 26 at 5 p.m. Nash is a registered professional archaeologist and associate professor in the School of Integrated Sciences at James Madison University. She is also the director of the Environmental Archaeology Laboratory at JMU.

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the [you do not need to be a Facebook member to access the livestream.] The campus community is invited to attend the seminars in person in Swartzendruber Hall of the Suter Science Center.

“Archaeology opens doors to past cultures, allowing us to see the relevance of past practices to today’s problems,” says Nash. “As an interdisciplinary science, archaeology also tells us about the relationship between environmental history and cultural responses, a topic very important in this time of climate change.”

Nash explains that by looking at Native American communities who have long occupied the Shenandoah Valley, we can learn a great deal about responses to environmental change in our area.

Nash received her PhD in anthropology from the Catholic University of America. She is a specialist in archaeology of the Middle Atlantic uplands with over four decades of experience in cultural and environmental studies, including work with the National Park Service, National Forest Service, Commonwealth of Virginia, and private firms.

Spring 2022 Suter Science Seminars

EMU Communications — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 13:32:20 +0000

This semester’s Suter Science Seminar lineup at ��ݮ�� (EMU) includes a registered professional archeologist, a biologist, a psychologist, and a registered nurse.

Wednesday, Jan. 26, 5 p.m. – “Telling Time with Historical Ecology: Native American Communities in a Changing Shenandoah Valley Environment” with Dr. Carole Nash, associate professor in the School of Integrated Sciences at James Madison University.

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 4 p.m. – “Mechanisms of Transcriptional Repression in the Roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans” with Dr. Casonya Johnson, head of the department of biology at James Madison University.

Wednesday, Mar. 2, 4 p.m. – “From Fitness Training to Health Psychology: My Journey Back to EMU” with Dr. Susannah Moore, assistant professor of psychology at EMU.

Wednesday, Apr. 6, 4 p.m. – “Cervical Cancer as a Cancer of Disparities: Innovative Technology on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua for Health Equity Through a Community-based Participatory Process” with Dr. Emma Mitchell, associate professor and Director of Global Initiatives at the University of Virginia School of Nursing.

The lectures are made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs.

Fall ’21 Suter Science Seminars explore medicine, chemistry, sustainability

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 11:15:00 +0000

This semester’s Suter Science Seminar lineup at ��ݮ�� (EMU) includes an experimental pathologist, a physician, a chemist, and a sustainability consultant.

The events will be held in Room 106 of the Suter Science Center, and will be live streamed for the off-campus community on the .

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 4 p.m. – “Webs of Coherence in Human Belief Constructs: The Intersections of Science, Religion and Philosophy” with Dr. James C. Zimring, professor of experimental pathology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Saturday, Oct. 16, 9:15 a.m. – “Marginalized Groups’ Distrust of the Healthcare System as Pertains to Women’s Health” with Dr. Samfee G. K. Doe ’11, assistant professor and attending physician at Columbia University Medical Center.

Wednesday, Nov. 10, 4 p.m. – “Using Harmonic Radar to Track Individual Melon Flies in Hawaii: Classic Ecological Movement Studies Come to Entomology” with Matthew Siderhurst, professor of chemistry at EMU.

Wednesday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m. – “From Waste to Resource: Rethinking Production and Consumption within a Circular Economy” with James Souder ’13, sustainability consultant with Metabolic, an environmental think tank based in Amsterdam.

The lectures are made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs.

Neuroscientist to discuss mechanisms of severe epilepsy

EMU communications — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 19:14:00 +0000

Eric Wengert, a doctoral candidate in the neuroscience program at the University of Virginia and former adjunct professor at EMU, will give a Suter Science Seminar on Wednesday, April 7, at 4:15 p.m. His talk is titled “Inhibitory interneuron dysfunction drives seizures in SCN8A epilepsy,” and will examine new evidence about the mechanisms of this severe epilepsy syndrome.

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the

Wengert is in his fifth year of the neuroscience PhD program under the mentorship of Professor Manoj Patel. His research focuses on a severe form of epilepsy which causes intellectual disability, motor impairment, and seizures that are difficult to treat with medication.

“Gaining clarification of the precise mechanisms of the disease is warranted to help generate novel treatment strategies,” Wengert explains. “Although previously thought to be unaffected in SCN8A encephalopathy, this presentation will highlight new evidence that inhibitory interneurons are dysfunctional in SCN8A encephalopathy, and that their abnormal activity is sufficient to drive behavioral seizures.”

Wengert earned his bachelor’s in neuroscience from Bucknell University. After his anticipated graduation from the University of Virginia this May, he will join the laboratory of Dr. Ethan Goldberg at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a postdoctoral fellow.

Two ’09 alumna scientists to share Suter Science Seminar stage

EMU communications — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 13:30:00 +0000

Laura Cattell Noll ’09 of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and pediatrician Dr. Kelly Smucker ’09 will give a Suter Science Seminar at ��ݮ�� Wednesday, March 24, at 4:15 p.m. Their talk, titled “Wadi Rum, watersheds, and well child checks” will take the audience through their professional journeys and the impact of their friendship, which began their freshman year at EMU.

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the

Noll and Smucker joke that they became fast friends as “fellow science nerds” in college, solidifying their bond over late-night chemistry write-ups in the Northlawn dorm.

Noll studied environmental science and justice, peace, and conflict studies at EMU before earning a master’s in environmental science from the University of Virginia. She coordinates the Local Leadership Workgroup of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and has more than a decade of experience in community-based watershed restoration and stewardship.

Smucker majored in biology and minored in chemistry and history at EMU. She worked as a research assistant in microbiology at the University of Virginia, and did translational research in leukemia at Ohio State University, where she went on to earn her medical degree. Smucker completed her pediatric residency at the University of Minnesota and is now a pediatrician in Oregon.

The next seminar will be given by Eric Wengert, a doctoral candidate in the neuroscience program at the University of Virginia, on April 7.

Suter Science Seminar to focus on decision-making and analysis for issues of wildlife disease management

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 14:51:00 +0000

Katrina Alger ’08, a biologist and decision analyst at the United States Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center, will give a Suter Science Seminar at ��ݮ�� on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 4:15 p.m. Her talk is titled “Difficult decisions: the role of value-focused thinking in wildlife disease management.”

Katrina Alger

The seminars are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the

Alger will speak on decision making and analysis for issues of wildlife disease management, and how to do so in transparent, inclusive, and defensible ways.

“Outbreaks of disease in wildlife populations can have far-reaching consequences for biodiversity conservation, agricultural production, and human health,” Alger explains. “From a management standpoint, wildlife disease is often considered a ‘wicked’ problem due to ecological complexity, competing stakeholder objectives, and underlying uncertainty about both the system and treatment efficacy.”

Alger has worked on a variety of issues for the National Wildlife Health Center, including white-nose syndrome in bats, tissue loss disease in coral, and chytrid fungus in salamanders. She holds a master’s degree in conservation biology from the State University of New York School of Environmental Science and Forestry.

The next seminar will be given by Laura Cattell Noll ’09 of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and pediatrician Dr. Kelly Smucker ’09 on March 24.

Attorney Eric Rutt ’01 talks biotech patents at first Suter Science Seminar

admin — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 14:16:17 +0000

Attorney Eric Rutt ’01 will give the first of the 2021 Suter Science Seminars at ��ݮ�� (EMU) on January 27 at 4:15 p.m. His talk, titled “Can I really patent that?” will delve into the debate over what developments in biotechnology can be patented, including a 2013 case involving patents for genes that cause breast cancer.

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the

Rutt practices law with the firm Wolf Greenfield in Boston, which handles all aspects of intellectual property, with a focus on patent prosecution and litigation.

“The patent laws of the United States contemplate that ‘anything under the sun that is made by man’ can be patented,” Rutt said. “While laws of nature, such as E=mc2, and physical phenomena, such as newly discovered plants or minerals, are excluded, what about patenting genetically engineered organisms or genes that are discovered to cause cancer?”

Rutt graduated from EMU in 2001 with a degree in chemistry. He then worked as a laboratory technician at Merck before earning his doctorate at Boston College Law School.

The next seminar will be given by USGS National Wildlife Health Center biologist and decision analyst Katrina Alger ’08 on February 24.

Spring Suter Science Seminars 2021

EMU communications — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:44:51 +0000

This semester’s Suter Science Seminar lineup at ��ݮ�� includes a patent attorney, a wildlife management professional, a watershed steward, a pediatrician, and a neuroscientist.

The events sessions will be live streamed on the (you do not need a Facebook account to watch).

Wednesday, January 27, 4:15 p.m. – “Can I really patent that?” with Eric Rutt ’01, an attorney with Wolf Greenfield Intellectual Property Law in Boston.
Wednesday, February 24, 4:15 p.m. – “Difficult decisions: the role of value-focused thinking in wildlife disease management” with Katrina Alger ’08, a biologist and decision analyst at the United States Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center.
Wednesday, March 24, 4:15 p.m. – “Wadi Rum, watersheds, and well child checks” with Laura Cattell Noll ’09 of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and pediatrician Dr. Kelly Smucker ’09.
Wednesday, April 7, 4:15 p.m. – “Inhibitory interneuron dysfunction drives seizures in SCN8A epilepsy” with Eric Wengert, a doctoral candidate in the neuroscience program at the University of Virginia.

The lectures are made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs.

Eric Rutt

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the

Rutt practices law with the firm Wolf Greenfield in Boston, which handles all aspects of intellectual property, with a focus on patent prosecution and litigation.

Rutt graduated from EMU in 2001 with a degree in chemistry. He then worked as a laboratory technician at Merck before earning his doctorate at Boston College Law School.

The next seminar will be given by USGS National Wildlife Health Center biologist and decision analyst Katrina Alger ’08 on February 24.

Katrina Alger

Katrina Alger ’08, a biologist and decision analyst at the United States Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center, will give a Suter Science Seminar at ��ݮ�� (EMU) on February 24 at 4:15 p.m. Her talk is titled “Difficult decisions: the role of value-focused thinking in wildlife disease management.”

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the

Alger will speak on decision making and analysis for issues of wildlife disease management, and how to do so in transparent, inclusive, and defensible ways.

The next seminar will be given by Laura Cattell Noll ’09 of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and pediatrician Dr. Kelly Smucker ’09 on March 24.

Laura Cattell Noll & Kelly Smucker

Laura Cattell Noll ’09 of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and pediatrician Dr. Kelly Smucker ’09 will give a Suter Science Seminar at ��ݮ�� (EMU) on March 24 at 4:15 p.m. Their talk, titled “Wadi Rum, watersheds, and well child checks” will take the audience through their professional journeys and the impact of their friendship, which began their freshman year at EMU.

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the

Noll and Smucker joke that they became fast friends as “fellow science nerds” in college, solidifying their bond over late-night chemistry write-ups in the Northlawn dorm.

The next seminar will be given by Eric Wengert, a doctoral candidate in the neuroscience program at the University of Virginia, on April 7.

Eric Wengert

Eric Wengert, a doctoral candidate in the neuroscience program at the University of Virginia, will give a Suter Science Seminar at ��ݮ�� (EMU) on April 7 at 4:15 p.m. His talk is titled “Inhibitory interneuron dysfunction drives seizures in SCN8A epilepsy,” and will examine new evidence about the mechanisms of this severe epilepsy syndrome.

The sessions are free to the public, and made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. They will be live streamed on the

Wengert is in his fifth year of the neuroscience PhD program under the mentorship of Professor Manoj Patel. His research focuses on a severe form of epilepsy which causes intellectual disability, motor impairment, and seizures that are difficult to treat with medication.

UVa professor of pharmacology to present on liver disease

EMU communications — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 12:32:00 +0000

This event has been postponed.

Irina Bochkis, PhD, will give a Suter Science Seminar on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 4:15 p.m. at ��ݮ�� (EMU). Her talk will detail findings from a current research project on “Nuclear lamina and fatty liver disease.”

EMU students, faculty and staff can access secure Zoom links for events by visiting the after logging into my.emu.edu.

Bochkis teaches pharmacology in UVA’s School of Medicine in Charlottesville, Va. She came to the field of biology from an engineering background, which taught her the value of a multidisciplinary approach when tackling biomedical problems. Bochkis completed her PhD in Genomics and Computational Biology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She then trained at the Broad Institute for her postdoctoral fellowship, applying computational analysis of high-throughput data to epigenetic mechanisms in aging liver.

The seminars are made possible by the sponsorship of the Daniel B. Suter Endowment in Biology and the co-sponsorship of supporting programs. Named in honor of long-time EMU biology professor, Daniel B. Suter (1920-2006), the Endowment in Biology was established in 1986 through the generous donations of alumni and friends and currently consists of over $1 million of invested funds.

EMU hopes to double the Suter Endowment in order to more adequately support distinguished faculty and to increase scholarship aid to deserving students.

NIH chief talks mental health and genetics at October Suter seminar

EMU communications — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 15:46:02 +0000

Dr. Francis J. McMahon will give a Suter Science Seminar on Wednesday, October 14 at 4:15 p.m. at ��ݮ�� (EMU).

McMahon will speak on “Genetics of Mental Illness: Unique Insights from Studies of Amish and Mennonite Communities,” including an overview of the advances made in this field over the last 10 years. McMahon is chief of the Human Genetics Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health’s intramural research program, and teaches psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

McMahon was first featured in a 2018 EMU article about EMU alumna, Bev Miller, who was helping to raise awareness about bipolar disorder. Read more here.

The article, and Miller’s outreach, helped to publicize a still-current enlisting the participation of people of Anabaptist heritage who have or are related to people with bipolar disorder. Also known as manic-depressive illness, it tends to run in families.

McMahon’s research focuses on identifying genetic markers associated with mood and anxiety disorders to improve patients’ diagnosis and treatment.

In particular, mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia commonly run in families, and exact a substantial burden on health, happiness, and longevity. McMahon’s work has been recognized with a variety of awards, including the Colvin Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorders Research.

The next seminar is “Nuclear lamina and fatty liver disease,” to be given by Nov. 11 by University of Virginia School of Medicine professor Irina Bochkis.