Biology News and Events

Student, Alumni, and Faculty Achievements

• Learn about recent Student and Alumni Achievements in the Biological Sciences.

• Learn about recent Faculty Achievements in Biological Sciences.

Recent Highlights

New Publication by SCSU Faculty: Intersection Between Scientific Research and STEM Education 

Dr. Matt Julius is a co-author on a recent publication in the Asian Journal of Biology Education investigating how a diatom-based education computer program can raise environmental awareness among students. This computer program, SimRiver, is used in introductory biology courses at SCSU. Read more about the findings here: 

• Fostering Students’ Awareness and Attitudes toward River Environments: Development of a Diatom-Based Educational Program.

Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in St. Paul (MN) Hosted by SCSU Faculty in July 2025

Biology and Chemistry faculty Dr. Matthew Davis and Dr. Jennifer Lamb, and Atmospheric and Earth Sciences faculty Dr. Sarah Gibson were local hosts of the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists held in St. Paul (MN) in July 2025. The event had ~700 participants from around the world presenting their work studying fishes, amphibians, and reptiles.

Six SCSU students presented oral and poster presentations at the meeting. Biological Sciences graduate student Spencer Ott (Graduate Advisor Dr. Sarah Gibson) was the recipient of the Storer Award for Best Poster in Ichthyology. SCSU Biological sciences student Elizabeth Favor was the recipient of a Raney Award for her research from the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Congratulations to Spencer and Elizabeth!

New Publication by SCSU Student and Faculty: Investigating the Family Tree of Anglerfishes: New Publication 

SCSU alum Alex Maile (Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution B.S. and Biological Sciences M.S.) and Dr. Matthew Davis are authors on a recent publication in PLOS One exploring the evolution of deep-sea anglerfishes from a total evidence perspective that includes novel insights into the classification of the group. This work was part of Alex Maile' thesis work at SCSU.

• A total-evidence phylogenetic approach to understanding the evolution, depth transitions, and body-shape changes in the anglerfishes and allies (Acanthuriformes: Lophioidei

New Publication by SCSU Faculty: Salamanders Glow Throughout Their Life

SCSU Faculty Dr. Jennifer Lamb and Dr. Matthew Davis are authors on a recent publication in Ichthyology and Herpetology exploring glowing salamanders in their early-life history. 

• Illuminating the Early Life of Salamanders: Exploring Biofluorescence During Development

TEDx Presentations by Faculty in Biological Sciences

Dr. Matthew Davis and Jennifer Lamb - The Glowing Creatures Hidden in Your Backyard

Dr. Matthew Julius - What do Algae Have to do with Public Funding of Research?