News and Events
International Notice for Duffy's Cut
A film crew from public television in Ireland spent Memorial Day weekend with Dr. Bill Watson and his colleagues recording material for a possible documentary on the story of Duffy's Cut, the archeological dig into the history, and the follow-up research. As part of their production they filmed Immaculata student researchers Jennifer Harris and Dawn Toros at work in the lab. The young women are working on a protocol for amplifying DNA in preparation for analyzing findings from the site.
Campus Safety Office Works on Emergency Preparedness
Gene Biagiotti, Director of Campus Safety, has received a grant from the Pennsylvania Campus Compact. The grant provides funds to the University for emergency management planning. The Office of Campus Safety will be working in partnership with the East Whiteland Fire Company in preparing an enhanced emergency management plan for the campus.
Student Researchers in the Spotlight
The research mini-grants made possible by the Extramural Associates Research Development Award (EARDA) from the National Institute of Child Health and Human development have provided invaluable opportunities for many Immaculata students. Among those who have participated in mentored research are two young women preparing for graduation on May 15 and the beginning of Ph.D. programs in biological sciences at Drexel University.
Claire Coleman has engaged in research activities since sophomore year, working on mini-grant studies in biology/chemistry during the school year here at Immaculata, and holding summer research internships at the Wetlands Institute of New Jersey through Stockton University during her summers. Claire's summer ecology research was funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Sea Grant, and the New Jersey Fisheries Information Development Commission. She has presented at a number of local, state, and regional conferences, bringing home awards from such places as the University of Maryland.
Claire chose Immaculata for the small student-to-teacher ratio, and has appreciated the opportunities for mentored research in a liberal-arts setting. With undergraduate work behind her, she will begin her first graduate research assistantship with Drexel University in Barnegate Bay in early summer.
Candice Curro, also beginning her graduate work at Drexel University this year, will be working in microbiology. She starts her new career with assistantships in teaching and research. With several mini-grant research projects and unfunded individual mentored research to her credit, Candice has concentrated her recent efforts in the phylogenetic relationship between polyextremophylic bacteria.
In addition, Candice works on analyzing protocols for extraction of DNA from bones. Her interest in this area was piqued by the Duffy's Cut archeological project conducted by Dr. William Watson and colleagues from IU's Department of History, Politics and International Studies. Not one to waste time, Candice oversaw the microbiology laboratory during her senior year.
Candice chose Immaculata for the personal contact with professors, and the richness of the liberal arts framework combined with a rigorous science degree. She has appreciated that the university provides opportunities for individual mentored research projects.
For both young women and for all IU's student researchers, preparation for presentation has become a bit easier with the purchase of a Hewlett Packard poster printer. Beyond the production of professional quality posters by individual researchers, the printer is now serving a new purpose. In the picture below, Sister Susan Cronin, Ph.D., of the Biology Department, shows a poster created by a sophomore biology major to illustrate research c
arried out as part of a departmental course. Creation and display of the posters helps students to develop depth and precision in their work. The department sets a high priority on research as part of the normal biology programs.
Research Mini-grants
With the help of an Extramural Associates Research Enhancement Transition Award from the National Institutes of Health, Immaculata faculty and students are continuing the pilot studies that have come to be known as mini-grants. This year's studies include both expansions of existing studies and the addition of new researchers. To see what is new in Immaculata research, please go to Pilot Studies, 2005.
Early Student Researcher Shares Lessons Learned
Bernadette Thomas, one of Immaculata's first EARDA Researchers and a graduate of the class of 2001, returned to campus April 10th to address the Spring Honor Society Induction. Miss Thomas presented to an NIH Technical Assistance Workshop for college faculty and administrators while still an undergraduate, and participated in the Council on Undergraduate Research's 'Posters on the Hill' in Washington, D.C. Her message to the honorees included establishing conversation with a faculty mentor, maintaining balance 
through varied activities, and fearlessly pursuing goals and dreams.
On May 20th she will become Dr. Bernadette Thomas, M.D.. After speaking at her graduation as president of her medical school class, Dr. Thomas will begin her residency at Einstein Montefiore Hospital in The Bronx, N.Y. She chose this hospital because of its commitment to service of the poor and homeless, and its research into health care for the underserved.
Recent Presentations
Josh Warner, shown here with his research mentor, Dr. Carl Pratt, presented his research at the annual conference of the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences. The event gave Josh the opportunity to discuss the work with similarly interested researchers from all areas of the state. His research involves the toxicity of rainwater and environmental runoff.
Two students in earlier stages of their research accompanied Josh, Dr. Pratt, and Dr. Martin, Chair of the Biology Department.
If you are interested in an undergraduate research project, talk with your faculty advisor or contact the Office of Sponsored Research (Ext.3020, )
Space Trip
Science and mathematics students traveled to Goddard Space Flight Center in Beltsville, MD for a day of exploration and conversation with NASA scientists. The trip, a part of the Fellowship in Mathematics and Science (F.I.M.S.) Program administered by the Chester County Intermediate Unit, gave the students an extraordinary opportunity to see new applications for their studies. They saw the world's largest clean room, examined testing rooms, were awed by the sheer size of the materials and equipment, and had the chance to address questions to the people with the answers. F.I.M.S. is part of the Mathematics - Science Partnership Program.