All students majoring in Biology are required to complete a senior research project. This entails writing a research proposal, completing the proposed laboratory or field work and writing a thesis. A more complete description of the senior research program can be found in the course catalog under Biology. In addition to the thesis, all  students prepare poster presentations and some present their projects in forums such as the Southwestern Pennsylvania Undergraduate Biology Symposium. Approximately twenty students complete a project each year. Following are a few of the projects done over the past several years. Click on the titles to access the abstracts.

 

Camus, L. M. The Effects of the Heavy Metal Aluminum on Escherichia coli K-12 (2004).

Eutsey, K. L. Telomerase Expression in the Early Stages of Carcinogenesis in Benzo [a] Pyrene Exposed Cultured Human Lung Fibroblasts (2004).

Gruss, E. A. Behavioral Changes in Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Larvae Due to Parasitization by a Parasitic Wasp (Glyptapanteles flavicoxis) (2004).

HuWalt, H. A. A Study of Invertebrate Abundance In the Native and Non-native Forests of Maui, Hawaii (2004).

Kelly, A. M. Partial Reversal of Multiple-Drug Resistance (MDR) Is Observed in Cultured Human Uterine Sarcoma Cells Exposed to the Naturally Occurring Plant Compound Flavone (2004).

Ortiz, J. A. The Effects of Resistance Exercise and Amino Acid Supplementation on Castration-induced Sarcopenia in Male Sprague Dawley Rats (2003).

Rain, K. Long-term Memory Consolidation as a Function of Time of Day a Task is Learned by Rats (2004).

Roddy, N. M. A Field and Laboratory Study on Fish Responses to Alkaline Mine Drainage (2002).

Rowley, S. W.  The Effects of Chiropractic Manipulation on Motor Neuron Activity and Athletic Performance (2004).

Skwara, J. M. Analysis of the Potential Evolutionary Benefit of the [PSI⁺] Prion State in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (2004).

Straub, R. Effects of the Combined Treatment of the Anti-obesity Agents Orlistat and Sibutramine on the Male Wistar rat (2003).

Whiteside, P. R. Combinatorial Effects of Isoflurane and Phenylbutyrate on Growth Inhibition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (2003).

Wilcox, B.A. A Water Quality Assessment of the Headwater System forming Tinker's Run (proper) in the Turtle Creek Watershed, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (2003).