Students present at National Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology conference

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Radford University was well-represented at the National 2014 Conference for the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB).  Drs. Sara O’Brien and Jason Davis attended with a variety of RU student presenters in tow to present their novel independent research projects: Kirsten Bjornson, Kristan Cale, Laken Cooper, Dylan McDaniel, Stephanie Nicholas, and Fiona Surette.

Kirsten Bjornson (graduate student-Psychology, Davis Lab) presented a poster exploring methodological comparisons of stress physiology and avian behavior. Kristan Cale (undergraduate-Biology, Davis Lab) delivered a talk on research she accomplished regarding the effects of royal jelly proteins on growth in Madagascar hissing cockroaches. Laken Cooper (undergraduate-Biology, O’Brien Lab) presented a poster on a three-year study exploring the effects of habitat fragmentation on avian territorial behavior. Dylan McDaniel (undergraduate-Biology, Davis Lab) presented a poster on the interaction of stress and immune function on the behavior of house sparrows. Stephanie Nicholas (undergraduate-Biology, Davis Lab) presented a poster on her work exploring the hormonal interactions of royal jelly and juvenile hormone on Manduca sexta development. Fiona Surette presented a poster (undergraduate-Biology, Davis & Guinan Labs) on the impact of daily corticosterone administration on nestling bluebirds in relation to fledging and parental behavior.  

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The attendance to National conferences such as SICB by RU Biology students allows our undergraduates to present their data and results to an audience of major players within the various fields of biology.  It also gives our student researchers the opportunity to network with other scientists who may help them design the next step of their experiments, lay the groundwork for possible collaborations with other institutions, as well provide the unique opportunity to meet with scientists who may be looking for graduate students to join their graduate labs and begin thesis research, thus providing an exploration for post-graduate career possibilities. 

Jan 20, 2014
Karen Powers
540.831.6537
biology@radford.edu