Gator TAILS

As the Earth's climate changes, species will be exposed to different thermal environments from the ones in which they evolved. This not only includes changes in average temperatures (e.g., warmer winters), but more variable temperatures (e.g., a 70F day in the Spring followed by a 30F day). To some degree, organisms can cope with these temperature changes because of their physiological systems......

Professor Mahita Kadmiel 's ( Biology and Biochemistry ) research program focuses on hormonal regulation (and dysregulation) of the eye. Although most of her research is done in the laboratory setting at Allegheny College, she is actively involved with collaborative research with Erie Retina Research Center. Some of this collaborative work involves mobile screening of patients for eye diseases, wi...

It’s been a quite a while since I’ve thought about Prince Tuesday, Mr. McFeely, and the other fictional characters in one of my favorite childhood TV shows:  Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood . Bridgette Reeb (’25), a student in our  Philosophy Program , has spent time during the last 2 academic years under the mentorship of  Prof. Irem Kurtsal  thinking about Fred Rogers… specifically, about some of th...

The ⁠Watershed Conservation Research Center⁠ (WCRC) engages in strategic conservation activities related to land and water resources in the upper Allegheny River basin, focusing on the ⁠French Creek Watershed⁠ . The co-directors Profs. ⁠Casey Bradshaw-Wilson⁠ and ⁠Kelly Pearce,⁠ along with numerous other staff scientists, work with Allegheny students and community partners to conduct research proj...

Lyme Disease (caused primarily by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi ) is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. In 2022, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ranked #2 in the number of  reported cases of Lyme Disease in the United States. Lyme Disease is of interest to biologists, epidemiologists, and health professionals because of the complex ways in which wildlife and ecologica...

Field guides are utilized by professional scientists, citizen scientists, and members of the general public to assist in the identification of living (and non-living) parts of our environment. In addition to providing users with images and descriptions of the things that are viewing, some field guides provide information about these items that relate to their historical or cultural significance. M...

When the economies of countries grow, they experience a shift (or a transformation) in the makeup of their economy as jobs shift to meet the new economic demands. Economics major Zachary Wyse ('25) and Professor Stephen Onyeiwu (Andrew Wells Robertson Professor of Economics) spent part of the Summer of 2023 exploring the pathways through which inequality influences how, and whether, Africa mig...

Beatrice is from Toronto, Ontario -- one of the fastest growing cities in all of North America. As cities grow, most residents are typically added to the surrounding suburbs which creates a bit of a problem: how do cities efficiently move people from further distances into the city center? To accomplish this, public transits (such as the Toronto Transit Commission) consider adding to the existing...

You've probably heard that DNA contains the genetic code -- the "instruction manual" (if you will). Within DNA, some of these segments of A's, T's, G's and C's found in a certain order contain the instructions (= genes) to create proteins -- the macromolecules that actually "carry out" the instructions of DNA. Researchers, such as evolutionary developmental...

Bintou Fofana is a senior at Allegheny College, where she is pursuing a degree in  International Studies  with an area focus on West Africa. She is double minoring in Political Science and French. At Allegheny, Bintou is involved in numerous activities/organizations, including the  Center for Political Participation  and she is part of the  Global Citizens Scholars’ Program . Bintou is also a podc...

Allegheny College's Law and Policy Program provides students with opportunities to explore their interests in politics and prepare them for the kinds of work they want to pursue after graduation. This program is open to students majoring in any academic discipline at Allegheny College. In January of 2023, Prof. Brian Harward and some staff members in the Center for Career and Professional Deve...

For a number of years, Dr. Becky Dawson ('00) has partnered with the Meadville Medical Center on a number of projects associated with public health and epidemiology. One of these projects has been assisting in the Crawford County Health Needs Assessment . This is an ongoing research project aimed to assess the health in Crawford County by collecting, analyzing, distributing and using valid and...

The Art Department at Allegheny College has a rich tradition of helping students learn to contextualize artworks, understand the connection between art and history, and showcasing original pieces of art in the Allegheny Art Galleries . Allegheny students and faculty also have opportunities to collaborate with art galleries and museums in the surrounding area during which students gain valuable exp...

Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that occur naturally in vertebrates and regulate many aspects of an organisms physiology. They are also widely used for the treatment of inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and even in some cancers. In this episode, I chat with Lottie Mateyak ('23; Biology ) about a research project that she conducted with Dr. Mahita Kadmiel , Assistant Professor in the Biology...

Evelyn Griffith ('24) is a double major in Computer Science and English Creative Writing and also a soprano vocalist at Allegheny College. In November of 2022, Evelyn performed a Junior Vocal Recital (one of many possible Performance Opportunities for Allegheny Students through our Music Department ) in the Ford Memorial Chapel. Prior to her recital, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with...

The plants and animals that inhabit most ecosystems experience phenological changes (i.e., cyclical and seasonal changes in their physiology, anatomy, or behavior). In fact, those of us who live in the temperate zone are familiar with a common phenological change: watching the leaves of deciduous trees change colors and drop during autumn. Climate change is altering the timing and patterns of prec...

The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most influential battles within the American Civil War -- it marked the turning point of the war and ended Confederate general Robert E. Lee's attempt to  invade the North and eliminating the possibility that the Confederate States of America would become an independent nation with the Union victory. Michael Gartland (’23), a History major and Engl...

If you’re not familiar with NW Pennsylvania, this part of the country is beautiful! In fact, there are numerous natural resources and outdoor recreational areas that are within a 45-minute drive of Meadville. Ray Colabawalla ('25) and Hunter Goerman ('25) spent their summer traveling across parts of PA working on a project in conjunction with Pennsylvania Environmental Council , Professor Ishita R...

In this episode, Victoria Smith ('23) discusses her experience as the Director of a play titled "It's Not All About Sex (Or Is It?)". This play (written by Professor Emeritus Josh Searle-White) was performed at the Meadville Community Theatre March 11-13 of 2022. The Meadville Community Theatre was founded in 1967 and is the oldest continually running community theater in Meadville. "It's Not All...

All of us are now familiar with rapid COVID antigen tests: a single line indicates no active infection whereas a double line indicates a positive infection. How do these test cards actually work and what type of chemistry is involved in this type of test? This, and numerous other biochemical and medical applications, use chemical surface reactions like those on the COVID antigen test card. One of...

In this episode, Emma Yesko ('23) discusses her summer research project at Bousson Environmental Research Reserve, a property owned by Allegheny College. Emma discovered a die-off of tadpoles in a pond and she conducted a multi-week field study to try to determine what factor(s) might be associated with the mortality event. 

Gator TAILS ( T alking A bout I nquiry, L earning, and S cholarship) is your one stop shop to hear about the exciting research, scholarship, and creative work done by current Allegheny College students. In this introductory episode, you'll meet the host -- Dr. Matt Venesky (Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities at...