Bio students visit alum's lab; student presents at conference

Dr. Justin Pruneski (Biology) and seven students attended the annual meeting of the Ohio Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (OBASM), on April 5-6 at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. Students attending were Cassy Connare, Jodie Hellickson, Alexis Huff, Elizabeth Mayer, Emily McIntire, Olivia Raubenolt, and Mckenzie Wohlford. Emily presented a poster titled The Effects of Spaceflight on the Immune System and Subsequent Portrayal in the Media based on her Honors 455 research project with Professor Erica Moyer (Biology).

In addition to the conference, the group visited the laboratory of 'Berg alumnus Dr. Mark Peeples '74 at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. Dr. Peeples spoke to the group about his long career in research studying Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and developing vaccines against the disease. They also went on a tour of his lab facilities, saw the equipment they use, and heard from some of his lab members about their specific projects. The trip was generously funded by alumni donors through the Beyerle Fund.