(2013-05-03) Dr. Gary Ervin, Professor of Biological Sciences, recently received the 2013 Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor Award. The award, sponsored by the MSU Alumni Association and Office of the Graduate School, is made to a member of the MSU faculty based on well-documented examples of the highest dedication to graduate students while serving as an outstanding mentor. A mentor can be a major advisor or a member of a graduate committee, but being an outstanding mentor is much more than simply advising. A mentor provides wisdom, technical knowledge, assistance, support, encouragement, empathy and respect throughout, and most probably beyond, your graduate career. A graduate student reaps exceptional benefits from the mentor’s support, skills, wisdom and coaching. Mentoring also brings to a graduate student an understanding how his/her distinctive skills and ambitions fit into the opportunities offered by a graduate education. The mentor emphasizes the importance of scholarship, and university life and offers guidance in career choices.

(2013-05-03) Dr. Janet Donaldson, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, recently received the 2013 National Pork Board Swine Industry Award for Innovation. The research that garnered this prestigious award was entitled "Novel Use of Lipid-Producing Bacteria to Increase Circulating Triglycerides in Swine." Identification of Pictured (left to right): Mr. Brandon Cox, National Pork Board SE Representative; Dr. Donaldson; Dr. Wayne Green, President of the Southern Section of American Society for Animal Science.

(2013-04-30) The Biological Undergraduate Research Program held it's 6th annual Research Symposium on April 12, 2013, in Harned Hall. Twenty poster entries and presentations were judged by a panel of MSU Faculty and graduate students and the top three were selected for Downer Undergraduate Research Awards. The students receiving awards were Connor Dennison, First Place (Dr. Donna Gordon's lab); Kelly Callahan, Second Place (Dr. Justin Thornton's lab); and Rushil Randive, Third Place (Dr. James Stewart's lab). In addition, Dr. Donna Gordon, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, received the First Place Mentor Award. The students each received an engraved plaque, a cash award, and Connor also received an engraved cowbell--GO RESEARCH DAWGS!

(2013-04-24) Dr. Gary Ervin, Professor of Biological Sciences, is the recipient of a Spring 2013 Henry Family Research Fund award. The award of $5,000 will be used to fund research using microscopic algae to study processes of community assembly and invasion in aquatic ecosystems.

(2013-03-18)

(2013-02-28) CONGRATULATIONS to the Recipients of the Department of Biological Sciences Scholarship Awards for 2013-2014 Ramsey & Elaine O’Neal Scholarship Jerry Leonard Rodgers, Hannah Lynn Hults, Haley Nicole Jenkins, Frances Belle Carter John C. Longest Pre-Med Scholarship Caitlin Renee Henley Harned Memorial Scholar-Microbiology Jacob Morgan Stout Coy E. Patton Memorial Scholarship Andrew James Harper Scott Ferguson Memorial Fund Samuel Anton Twedt Mildred Watkins Brand Pre-Med Scholarship Dejanae Dilworth