|
News Archive for 2006
return to current news
September, 2006
- The 2006 Zoology research retreat was September 8-10. Thanks to everyone
who contributed to helping make the retreat a huge success.
- 2007-2008 retreat (dates TBA): Organizer: Edie Marsh-Matthews
Assistant Organizer: Larry Weider
May, 2006
- Randy Hewes received a 3 year $135K grant, "Steroid Regulation
of the Epitracheal Endocrine System,” from the Oklahoma Center
for the Advancement of Science and Technology. Alterations in the long-term
regulation of peptide hormone secretion are associated with aging and
with many human diseases, including diabetes, reproductive disorders,
cardiovascular disease, cancer and obesity. In this project, the Hewes
lab will examine the molecular mechanisms underlying steroid-mediated
regulation of insect ecdysis-triggering hormone gene _expression. The
long term goal of this research is to gain a better understanding of
the complex mechanisms underlying steroid regulation of peptide hormone
systems.
- Dave Hambright received a 2.5-year grant for $501,243 from the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation to establish an "Environmental
monitoring program for Prymnesium parvum in Lake Texoma." Prymnesium
parvum, a toxic golden algal species responsible for substantial fish
kills in Texas lakes and reservoirs, recently established populations
in several Oklahoman systems, including Lake Texoma. Though golden algal
toxins are not known to be harmful to humans, they are highly toxic
to fish and other "gill-breathing" animals, and could potentially
severely alter the ecological balance in aquatic ecosystems in the state.
This award complements his previous ODWC-funded golden algae eco-toxicology
research program and aims to gain an understanding of the environmental
conditions in Lake Texoma and other Oklahoma reservoirs that are conducive
to, prevalent during, and inhibitory to the development of blooms of
this invading species.
April, 2006
- Doug Mock has been named as a new George Lynn Cross Research Professor.
This Professorship is the highest award for research at the University
of Oklahoma.
- Jeff Kelly received a 5 year $496, 822 grant from the National Science
foundation to create a Research Coordination Network called Migration
Interest Group:Research Applied Toward Education (MIGRATE). The network
is focused on advancing our understanding of long-distance animal movements
through better use of emerging technologies. Network activities will
include annual meetings, engaging students from a diversity of backgrounds
in training programs, and fostering multi-institutional collaborations
throughout the Americas and Europe.
- Three Zoology faculty were honored at the OU “Tribute to the
Faculty” in April for 30 or more years of service: Joe Bastian
(32 years), Gary Schnell (36 years), and Jim Thompson (31 years).
- David Hambright has received $8,777 from the Research Council.
- Dan Spooner's NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant has been
recommended for funding.
- Heather Rice (a Zoology major in Randy Hewes’ lab) has been
awarded a prestigious, nationally competitive Goldwater Scholarship,
at $7500 per year, renewable while an undergraduate.
- Jeff Kelly was awarded a Junior Faculty Summer Fellowship.
- Sebastian Gauthier was awarded $1,000 in support for his dissertation
research from the Graduate College.
- Rae Deaton: Won first place in Graduate Student Research Poster Session,
during Graduate Student Research and Creative Activity day.
- Matt Dowling (undergraduate in Mike Kaspari’s lab) has earned
a McNair Fellowship and a prestigious, nationally competitive Morris
Udall Scholarship ($5,000).
- Brandi Coyner (graduate of OU Zoology department; now a PhD student
at OSU) recently won an NSF predoctoral award.
- Matt Dugas received an honorable mention in the NSF Graduate Research
Fellowship competition.
March, 2006
- Jie Shao has been accepted to the competitive "Complex Systems
Summer School" program that will be held in Santa Fe Institute,
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
February, 2006
|
|
Events
in Zoology:
|
