Cumberlidge Named Peter White Scholar

Neil Cumberlidge freshwater crab

Dr. Neil Cumberlidge, Professor of Biology, was recently named NMU's 2009 Peter White Scholar to work on a major revision of the freshwater crabs of eastern Africa using bioinformatics.

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Recognizing Outstanding Graduating Students

Paul

Julian Dupuis

Graduate student Paul Kusnierz has been selected as the Biology Department’s Outstanding Graduate Student.  Kusnierz, who studied coaster brook trout while at NMU, is now employed with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.  Full details

Senior Julian Dupuis has been selected as the Biology Department’s Outstanding Graduating Senior.  Dupuis returned to school to study biology as a non-traditional student and brought a invaluable perspective to share with his NMU student peers.  Full details



Climate for Change



Bill Severud & beaver

Five biology students received funding for their research through the NMU Spooner Award program in 2008-9. Projects ranged from cancer biology to agricultural research to wildlife & fisheries management.  To receive the award, students prepared detailed proposals for submission to the review committee which judged the proposed work on the basis on significance of the project and potential for production of a manuscript or presentation.

Winners were: Rachel Hovel (undergrad), Trisha Sippel (grad), Mike Peters (grad), Bill Severud (grad), and Julie Howard (grad).

J Leonard

Dr. Jill Leonard received one of three 2009 NMU Distinguished Faculty Awards for her teaching, service, and research on migratory fishes.

White tail deer


Dr. Alec Lindsay recently (2008) published an article with Dr. Jerry Belant in Conservation Genetics on the use of molecular methods for the identification of sex in white-tailed deer.  This work represents the generation of new, simple techniques that will assist managers and scientists in their work with this important species.
Full Article

Celebration of Student Works

Bright Ideas graphic


Biking for Hope

bike for hopeThis year’s  “Hope Starts Here Cycling Challenge: A ride for brain tumor advocacy, research, education and treatment” takes place Saturday, May 9.  Registration is $25 prior to the day of the race and $30 the day of the race. 
Proceeds go to help the Upper Michigan Brian Tumor Center initiatives. The center is a combined effort of Marquette General Health System and NMU.
For those not interested in biking, there is a walk through NMU’s campus.  All participants receive T-shirts and lunch. Two Giant Simple Cruiser bikes are part of a silent auction for the event.
For race schedule and course map, click here.


Community Partners

Upper Michigan
Brain Tumor Center

Drs Winn and Rovin


NMU biology faculty and student researchers and Marquette General Health System's medical experts specializing in neuroscience and cancer make up the Upper Michigan Brian Tumor Center (UMBTC) team. After recent UMBTC studies confirmed that the Zbtb7 gene --thought to act as a master switch for cancer -- is present in malignant brain tumors, research is now focused on ways to silence Zbtb7. Dr. Rob Winn of NMU (pictured seated) and  Dr. Richard Rovin of MGHS (standing) recently presented these research findings at the National Congress of Neurological Surgeons. To learn more, go to HopeStartsHere.org