DEPARTMENT of BIOLOGY

Graduate Student Research

2017-2018 Graduates

Joseph Horacek Thesis: "Cryptic Speciation among Meiofaunal Flatworms" Committee: Dr. Julian Smith III (Chair), Dr.Nathan Kokonis Thesis: "Message in a Bottle: the Expression and Confirmation of ISF6_4831, a Polyethylene Terephthalate Hydrolase" Committee: Dr. Kristi Westover and Nicholas Grossoehme (Co-Chairs), Dr. Victoria Frost, and Dr. Kathryn Kohl Abstract

Brian England Thesis: "Does Browsing Matter? : "Predation and Population Declines in the Federally Endangered Schweinitz's Sunflower (Helianthus Schweinitzii T&G)" Committee: Dr. William Rogers (Chair), Dr. Janice Chism, and Dr. Paula Mitchell Abstract

2016-2017 Graduates

Nicole Berson Thesis: Understanding the Past, Present, and Future of Land Conservation in South Carolina Committee: Dr. Matt Heard (Chair), Dr. Bollinger, and Dr. Janice Chism Abstract

Caroline Driscoll Thesis: The Behavioral Effects of Feeding Enrichment on a Zoo-Housed Herd of African Elephants Committee: Dr. Bill Rogers (Chair), Dr. Janice Chism, and Dr. Kristi Westover Abstract

Ariel Kunde Thesis: The effect of Staphylococcus aureus on stiffness of cortical bone Committee: Dr. Meir Barak (Chair), Dr. Vicki Frost, and Dr. Matt Stern Abstract

Grace Olson Thesis: Geographic Variation In Low Frequency Narrow Band Sounds Produced Bamazon River Dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) in Brazil and Peru Committee: Dr. Bill Rogers (Chair), Dr. Janice Chism, and Dr. Cindy Tant Abstract

Candace Stenzel Thesis: Do the Vocalizations of Equatorial Saki Monkeys (Pithecia Equatorialis) Contain Referential Meaning? Committee: Dr. Janice Chism (Chair), Dr. Bill Rogers, and Dr. Cindy Tant Abstract

2015-2016 Graduates

Lisa Baird Thesis: Establishing and validating a novel 3D culture system to model and study osteogenesis at the cellular level Committee: Dr. Matthew Stern (Chair), Dr. Meir Barak, Dr. Kristi Westover Abstract

Taylor Brown Thesis: Role of FoxO1 in Cardiomyocyte and Endothelial Cell Signaling Committee: Dr. Heather Evans-Anderson (Chair), Dr. Laura Glasscock, and Dr. Matt Stern Abstract

Sarah Huskisson Thesis: Assessment of Behavior and Social Dynamics in a Newly-forming Family of Captive Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla Gorilla Gorilla) Committee: Dr. Janice Chism (Chair), Dr. Bill Rogers, and Dr. Kristi Westover Abstract

Richard Jackson Thesis: Habitat Stratification of Pithecia Species in the Área de Conservación Regional Comunal Tamshiyaco Tahuayo in the Northeastern Peruvian Amazon Committee: Dr. Janice Chism (Chair), Dr. Bill Rogers, and Dr. Matt Heard Abstract

Brian Sikes Thesis: Epitopes in the nucleocapsid protein of Hantaviruses Committee: Dr. Kristi Westover (Chair), Dr. Matt Stearn, and Dr. Matt Heard Abstract

2014-2015 Graduates

Kaitlin McCullough Thesis: Committee:Daniel Stanton Thesis: Time Enough At Last: Identification and Analysis Of Core-Clock Proteins And The Evolution Of Arnt And Period In The Lower Bilateria Committee: Dr. Julian Smith III (Chair), Dr. Paula Mitchell, and Dr. Dwight Dimaculangan Abstract

2013-2014 Graduates

Leslie Burch Thesis: Vocalization, Surface Behavior And Habitat Use Of The Amazon River Dolphin (Inia Geoffrensis) During Reciding Water, Loreto Peru Committee: Dr. Bill Rogers (Chair), Dr. Janice Chism, Dr. Kristi Westover Abstract

Bernie Cooke Thesis: Probing Behavior Of Southern Green Stink Bug, Nezara Viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), On The Soybean Plant, Glycine Max Committee: Dr. Paula Mitchell (Chair), Dr. Kunsiri Grubbs, Dr. Julian Smith III Abstract

Brittany Jones Thesis: Optimization Of The Protein C System In The Invasive Potential Of PC3 Cells Committee: Dr. Laura Glasscock (Chair), Dr. Janice Chism, and Dr. Kristi Westover Abstract

2012-2013 Graduates

Derrick Brasington Thesis: The effect of prescribed burning over time on the populations of birds in Kings Mountain National Military Park and Kings Mountain State Park Committee: Dr. Bill Rogers (Chair), Dr. James Johnston, and Dr. Janice Chism Abstract

John Beale Thesis: Spontaneous VIF Mutation Resulting in Antiretroviral Resistance can lead to Aids Committee: Dr. Kristi Westover (Chair), Dr. Dwight Dimaculangan, and Dr. Laura Glen Abstract

Brett Frye Thesis: Female dominance and dynamics of social organization in red-necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus banksianus) Committee: Abstract

Ryan Williams Thesis: The urokinase plasminogen activator system and malignancy : an investigation of the mechanisms behind prostate cancer proliferation and invasion Committee: Dr. Laura Glasscock (Chair), Dr. Janice Chism, and Dr. Kristi Westover Abstract

The Graduate Student Research Program has been at Winthrop University for 30 years! You can find the thesis abstracts of previous students in the Winthrop Library.