Early March saw 2 of Hampden-Sydney’s seniors present their research work at professional conferences attended by fellow undergraduate students as well as graduate students, postdocs, and faculty from across the nation.  Tyler Moore presented his research work from summer 2010 at the Association of Field Ornithologists/Cooper Ornithological Society/Wilson Ornithological Society at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

Tyler and his research poster

Tyler performed his research with former professor Michael Collins on bird migratory patterns in coastal Maine.

Over the same weekend a few hundred miles away, Nate Thomas presented his senior honors research at the Southeast Regional Yeast Meeting at Mississippi State University.

Nate and his research poster

Nate’s research with professor Mike Wolyniak deals with the role of two proteins found in the yeast nuclear membrane in cell division.  Nate received a $300 travel award from the National Science Foundation to help him attend the meeting, bring the total of travel grant money awarded to Hampden-Sydney biology students this academic year to $900.  Professor Wolyniak moderated a platform session at the same meeting.

Nate presenting his poster

Professor Wolyniak and Nate on the central quad at Mississippi State

Because we are a member of the prestigious Marine Science Educational Consortium (MSEC), Hampden-Sydney students enjoy easy access to the Duke Marine Lab (DUML), where you can study for a fall or spring semester or for one or more summer terms, taking a variety of courses, working on independent research projects, and generally enjoying the beautiful yet busy little campus in Beaufort, NC. You can also take a “signature” travel course, studying marine science in such international settings as Singapore, Panama, France, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Professor Werth just returned from an MSEC Advisor meeting at DUML, so be sure to contact him if you have any questions about these opportunities.

The R/V Susan Hudson in Beaufort Harbor at DUML