From: Ada Maxwell Date: April 7, 2025 Subject: Biology Department Newsletter - April 2025
Welcome to the April 2025 Biology Department Newsletter! Here you'll find department updates, events, and news, as well as lots of cool opportunities for internships, summer research, and more! We welcome contributions (including pictures) from all department members. Please send any contributions to amaxwell2@loyola.edu
Biology Students Recognized at 2025 STEM Excellence Event
Members of the Natural and Applied Sciences division gathered on Friday, March 14th for the annual STEM Academic Excellence Event. 18 senior Biology majors were honored at the event.
Biology students honored for participation in Health Outreach Baltimore: Nabeeha Abbas, Kammaljit Basara, Katherine Convery, Amaya Jones-Core, Benick Mbaya, Rose McDermott, Judith Menjivar Morales, Christa Merzeus, Ayoboni Odukoya, Lauren Quinn, and Eduardo Ugarte.
Biology students honored for participation in Haig Scholars Program: Amber Delgado, Luisa Glass, Emily Grob, Amaya Jones-Core, Lea Magnani, Lauren Manwiller, Rose McDermott, Christa Merzeus, and Isabella Schoettle.
Biology Major Amaya Jones-Core Wins Prestigous Choudhury Sarkar-Dey Medal
Amaya Jones-Core, Biology major, was awarded the Choudhury Sarkar-Dey Medal at the 2025 STEM Excellence Event. The Choudhury Sarkar-Dey Medal is presented to an exemplary undergraduate senior majoring in the sciences who shows commitment to diversity and engagement with community service and justice.
Amaya impressed with her leadership and involvement in TriBeta, The Study, Health Outreach Baltimore, Society for Underrepresented Pre-Health students, Mosaic, and Green and Grey Society, as well as in her roles as a MAP Navigator, Resident Assistant, and a Haig Scholar. Congratulations to Amaya!
Foundations of Biology III Lab takes Field Trip to Oregon Ridge Park
On Thursday, March 27th, the Foundations of Biology III Lab class took a field trip to Oregon Ridge Park. Students collected stream samples at the park to compare to samples they have already collected from the Stony Run stream on Loyola's campus.
Summer Elective Now Available for Registration
Registration is now open for Dr. Craig Myrum's summer elective, BL*330 The Biology of Sleep. This 3 credit, online/asychronous class examines some of the leading theories for why we sleep and observes what happens when orgramisms (including ourselves) do not sleep. Sign up now to secure your spot!
Biohealth Major Dinner
April 10, 2025
6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Join the Biology Department for a dinner event featuring industry speaker Jennifer McKee, MBA. McKee serves as the Executive Oncology Lung Cancer Sales Specialist at Johnson & Johnson Oncology and is a breast cancer survivor. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Biohealth major, network with classmates, and gain insights from a professional in the field.
This event is open to Biohealth majors and their plus-ones.
The City Nature Challenge is a collaborative effort involving cities all over the world to identify as many wildlife species as possible in their urban setting over a 4-day period using the iNaturalist platform. The National Aquarium is the regional coordinator for the City Nature Challenge for the Baltimore Metropolitan Area.
The 2025 challenge takes place from Friday, April 25th through Monday, April 28th. With the help of many partner organizations and volunteers during last year’s City Nature Challenge, Baltimore made more than 10,000 observations of more than 1,600 species! This year we are looking to build on that success and we are hoping your organization can help us. Partnership is flexible based on what you’re interested in and have capacity to do.
The Simons Foundation is accepting applications from undergraduate students for the 2025 Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN). The goal of the SURFiN Program is to spark and sustain interest in neuroscience among undergraduate students who have not had access to research opportunities. Fellowships start in September 2025.
Applications and letters of recommendation are due at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on May 1, 2025. Please see the request for applications (RFA) for details, application instructions, and the location of SURFiN lab opportunities. Attend a virtual informational webinar on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Students can register for the webinar now.
SURFiN provides funds for paid, in-person undergraduate research assistantships during the academic year. Fellows may earn up to $7,500 USD at a rate of $25/hour for 10 hours a week over 30 weeks during the academic year. Fellows receive direct mentorship and participate in career development activities, including a virtual coding bootcamp and a scientific symposium in New York City.
Applicants must currently live within commuting distance of a SURFiN lab opportunity. Participating labs are located across the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Please contact neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org with questions about the program.
SUMMER, 3-CREDIT, FIELD COURSES IN COLORADO & THE CARIBBEAN! with Ecosystem Field Studies www.ecofs.org
An opportunity to apply your classroom & textbook learning while immersed in a spectacular & transformative environmental academic setting!
Caribbean Ecosystem Field Studies * Study, SCUBA, & Snorkel on the Caribbean Coast of Mexico May 20- June 9, 2025
Colorado Ecosystem Field Studies * Study, Camp, & Hike in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado *
July 18- August 7, 2025
Earn 3 undergraduate college transfer credits in these exciting 3-week, hands-on field study courses.
Learn practical scientific skills & methods in field research through active investigations.
Engage & connect with a dynamic & diverse group of student peers from throughout the US and beyond
Get out in nature, breath fresh air, earn credit, and enjoy a safe and inspiring field science course in the Colorado Rocky Mountains or the Caribbean Coral reef
Open to students from all universities & majors | Accredited by the University of Montana at Missoula, Environmental Studies Program: ENST 391- for 3 undergraduate semester transfer credits
Direct questions to Professor Steve Johnson, EcoFS Director at steve@ecofs.org
Did you know that there is a comprehensive list of student opportunities on the Biology Department website? You can check out graduate programs, internships, and summer programs. This page is updated often, so be sure to check it out!
