The National Science Foundation has awarded Dr. Mary Towner, from the Department of Integrative Biology at Oklahoma State University, a $203,000 grant to study the impact of migration, access to resources, and ethnicity on fertility across American Indian women in historical Oklahoma. Between 1828 and 1887, tens of thousands of American Indians were relocated to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) under United States Government removal policies. The demographic costs—particularly high mortality rates and drastic reductions in population size— incurred by American Indians during this time are well-known. Still largely unexplored, however, is how women's fertility—defined by demographers as number of live births—varied with social and ecological conditions during this tumultuous period. In collaboration with Dr. Kermyt Anderson (Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma), Towner and her students will study fertility variation using data from the 1910 United States Federal Census and records archived by the Office of American Indian Culture and Preservation at the Oklahoma Historical Society. The project will also support OSU graduate student training and provide undergraduates an opportunity to engage in STEM research. You can read more about the study here. Congratulations Mary!

Lindsey Hancock, a sophomore in physiology, was awarded the first place underclassman prize for OSU Library's Undergraduate LIbrary Research Award.  The award of $1500 recognizes excellence in research, critical thinking and self-reflection.  Hancock has been reseraching Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a drug resistant bacteria, to help uncover what makes this bacteria resistant to many antibiotics. You can read more about Lindsey and her award here.  Congratulations Lindsey!

Dr. Puni Jeyasingh, an Ecologist in the Integrative Biology Department, will travel to Finland to conduct research, establish collaborations, and teach a course at the University of Jyväskylä. Dr. Jeyasingh studies the effect environmental changes have had on small invertebrates. By hatching eggs from these invertebrates that are 700 years old (!!), he is able to directly observe how these invertebrates have changed over time. You can read more about Dr. Jeyasingh's award here. 

Congratulations on receiving such a presitigous award!

Congratulations to Patrick Cusaac, Adam Simpson, and Sarah Hileman on sweeping 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place at the regional conference for the Ozark-Prairie chapter of SETAC! OSU was well represented, with 9 students from the Department of Integrative Biology presenting excellent platform talks and posters. Also, a special thanks to the Interdisciplinary Toxicology program for supporting OSU graduate students conducting toxicology related research. You can read more here.

The National Science Foundation has awarded a four year $720,000 grant to Dr. Polly Campbell, in the Department of Integrative Biology at Oklahoma State University. The project seeks to understand the role of imprinted genes in the development and regulation of three defining mammalian features: the placenta, maternal care, and the development of a complex brain. Imprinted genes are defined by their ‘parent-of-origin’ pattern of expression: some are expressed only from the maternally inherited copy and others only from the paternally inherited copy. Because imprinted genes are essential to both placental function and brain development, they are uniquely positioned to affect mother-offspring interactions, during both gestation and lactation, with lasting effects on adult brain function and behavior. In collaboration with Dr. Jennifer Grindstaff (Integrative Biology), and Dr. Charles Chen (Biochemistry), Campbell’s lab group will use whole genome expression and DNA methylation profiling, together with hormonal and behavioral assays, to explore the consequences of disrupted imprinting for mothers and their offspring. In collaboration with Dr. Julie Angle (College of Education) the Campbell lab will provide hands-on research experience for preservice and in-service teachers; trainees will develop lesson plans that will translate their experiences into classroom practice, with the long-term goal of enhancing scientific literacy and engagement in Oklahoma public schools. Congratulations Polly!