DEPARTMENT of BIOLOGY NEWSLETTER

Department of Biology Archives

FA2025 - SU2026 Academic Year Highlights

Biology Students Present Research at Statewide Entomology Conference

Three undergraduate biology students recently presented their original research on plant-insect interactions and carnivorous plant ecology at the South Carolina Entomological Society Meeting held in Clemson, SC.

South Carolina Entomological Society Meeting in Clemson, SC. Kerrington Norman and
Amber Merce

Kerrington Norman & Amber Mercer presented their poster titled 'The Midge Behind Its Gall: Investigation of Galls in Palafoxia feayi,' which examined the role of midges in the formation of galls on native plant species.

South Carolina Entomological Society Meeting in Clemson, SC. Maite Torres Guilhamelou

Maite Torres Guilhamelou presented her research titled 'This Is a Sticky Situation: Exploring Allocation to Carnivory and Prey Trapping in Pink Sundew,' which delved into how carnivorous plants allocate resources for capturing prey. Her outstanding work earned her runner-up honors in the undergraduate poster competition, recognizing both the quality of her research and the excellence of her presentation.

FA2024 - SU2025 Academic Year Highlights

FA2024 Winthrop University Staff Member of the Month - December

Winthrop University Staff Memeber of the Month

Stefan M. Wunderlich (Department of Biology, Lab Manager) was awarded

Winthrop University Staff Member of the Month for December 2024.

FA2024 Biology 300 Poster Winners

1^st Place: Mollie Calabrese

Measuring Germination Rate & Root Length in Lens culinaris & Helianthus annus: Investigating the Positive Effects of Ducks Fat Scarification & Soaking.

2^nd Place: Lily Doyle

The effect of Glycine & Collagen on romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L var. longifolia) seed growth.

3^rd Place: Emmy Cardenas

Measuring The Effect Alpha-ketoglutarate Has on Daphnia-magna’s Muscular System, Studying Heart Rate, Under Optimal Living Conditions.

Honorable Mention: Israel Bellinger

The Effect of Sodium-Containing Compounds on Growth of Avena sativa (Common Oat) Plants.

SP2025 Winthrop University Staff Member of the Month - February

Staff Member of the Month

Lionel J. Todman (Department of Biology, Administrative Coordinator) was awarded

Winthrop University Staff Member of the Month for February 2025.

SP2025 Winthrop University Chapter of the National Biological Honors Society

2025 Tri-Beta Inductees

On April 4, 2025, Winthrop University Chapter of the National Biological Honors Society

Beta Beta Beta (Tri-Beta) inducted 21 new members.

SP2025 Graduating Biology Students

Winthrop University

Department of Biology

SP2025 Graduating Biology Students

Click on the link below to view:

SP2025 Department of Biology Graduating Seniors

SU2025 Department of Biology Research Students

SU2025 Summer Research Students

Department of Biology

Summer 2025 Research Students

Marsenia M. Chicas, Papa Gyandeh & Marisela M. Chicas

Professor of Biology - Eric C. Birgbauer, Ph.D.

FA2023 - SU2024 Academic Year Highlights

FA2023 Catawba National Internship Symposium

Paiton Funderburk, who majors in Biology at Winthrop University, conducted an ecological research on the woodland box turtles on the Catawba Indian Reservation where she lives. Paiton presented her research at the Catawba Internship Symposium on August 10th and received the first place price with a $500 scholarship.

FA2023 Honoring the Memory of Luckett V. Davis, Ph.D.

Winthrop University President Edward A. Serna (pictured) spoke at a memorial reception for Luckett V. Davis, Ph.D., former Chair of the Department of Biology, held in the atrium of Dalton Hall on August 14, 2023. The gathering was organized by the Winthrop Foundation; the Louise Pettus Archives prepared an extensive display of materials on boxing history that Dr. Davis donated to their collection. Retired former colleagues, former students & current faculty & staff gathered to remember Dr. Davis, a faculty member from 1964 to 1998 & chair of the Biology Department for 21 years, who passed away December 1, 2022.

Winthrop University President - Edward A.Serna, Ed.D.

Emeritus Faculty - Paula Mitchell, Ph.D.

In addition to President Serna, others who provided remembrances of Dr. Davis were former Chairs Dwight Dimaculangan, Ph.D. (pictured) & Jim Johnston, Ph.D., CAS Dean Takita Sumter, Ph.D. (pictured), former student & close friend Lyle Back, & several emerita faculty including Janice Chism, Ph.D., Paula Mitchell, Ph.D. & William Rogers, Ph.D. In addition to his donations to the Archives, Dr. Davis contributed extensively during his lifetime to fund the Luckett Davis Biology Endowment, which provides support for undergraduate & graduate research & travel provided a generous bequest to the Winthrop Foundation. Photo credits: Brittany Pigford, Louise Pettus Archives.

Former Department of Biology Chair & Emeritus Faculty

Dwight D. Dimaculangan, Ph.D.

Dean of The College of Arts & Sciences - Takita F. Sumter, Ph.D

SP2024 Native American Fish & Wildlife Society Annual National Conference

2024 Native American Fish and Wildlife Society Annual National Conference

Paiton Funderburk, who graduated from Winthrop University last year, won a People’s Choice Award for her poster at the 2024 Native American Fish & Wildlife Society Annual National Conference held last weekend. She did turtle research on her Catawba Indian Reservation last year & presented her findings at this national conference.

SP2024 ASB Conference - Chiara Meredith & Sabrina Rocha

SP2024 Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB) Conference

Chiara Meredith & Sabrina Rocha

SP2024 Showcase of Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors (SOURCE) Winners

On April 12^th, students from across the campus presented their research at Winthrop’s annual Showcase of Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors (SOURCE). Several Biology majors won awards for their posters, including Jessica Morgan (Best in SOURCE, mentored by Victoria Frost, Ph.D.), Lannea Brown & Melanie Williams (Best in Science and Mathematics, mentored by Daniel Stovall, Ph.D.). Lidia Peralta & Alexis Atkinson (also mentored by Victoria Frost, Ph.D.) won runner-up for their poster in Science and Mathematics.

SP2024 Dwight D. Dimaculangan, Ph.D. - Final BIOL480 Class

Dwight D. Dimaculangan, Ph.D. - Final BIOL480 Class

After 30 years of remarkable service to the Winthrop University Biology Department, Dwight D. Dimaculangan, Ph.D. will be retiring at the end of the Spring 2024 semester. Dr. DImaculangan has marked this momemtous occasion with a picture of his BIOL480 for the last time.

SP2024 Sullivan Foundation Award Winners - Michelle Aguilar-Gaspar & Ryan Harris

Michelle Aguilar-Gaspar & Ryan Harris;

Awarded the coveted Sullivan Foundation Awards

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation sponsors the presentation of the two awards to seniors from college campuses in the Southeast & recognizes individuals who demonstrate noble character & who act as humble servants.

Michelle AguilarGaspar - 2024 Sullican Founation Award

Michelle Aguilar-Gaspar, a senior from Georgetown, South Carolina, was presented the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award. Involved in the TRiO academic booster program for several years, she has shown a commitment to service that can be seen in her desire to mentor & tutor students. Staff members said she approaches each student with kindness & tries to find ways to adapt to their needs and learning styles. As a McNair Scholar, she wants to conduct research in the STEM field & plans to pursue a Ph.D. to work in cancer research. She also was instrumental in starting the Latinos Unidos student organization on campus late in her academic career & wanted to provide a safe space for this community.

Ryan Harris 2024 Sullivan Foundation Award

Ryan Harris, a Rock Hill native who is working on a biology major with a minor in educational studies, was presented the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. Active in many areas on campus, he serves as a biology department ambassador & participated in the Korean Wave Association and Tri Beta. He volunteered on campus as an Orientation Leader, a Student Orientation Coordinator, was a Council of Student Leaders member & an Admissions Assistant. Harris worked hard to create a welcoming environment for prospective students & their families with his calm, kind & thoughtful demeanor.

SP2024 Houk Award Winner

Spring 2024 Houk Award Winner Michelle Aguilar-Gaspar

Traditional Mechanism of RYBP silencing in GBM cells.

Michelle Aguilar-Gaspar

SP2024 Department of Biology Retirement Gathering

Biology Department Faculty Retirement Gathering

I greatly appreciate everyone who came to out to celebrate my retirement & a special thanks to those who planned the event.

The party was wonderful & the gifts were perfect. I will miss working with you all... the best department at Winthrop University!

- Dwight D. Dimaculangan, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology, Retired

SP2024 BIOL300 Poster Winners

SP2024 BIOLOGY-300 Winners

SU2024 Winthrop University "Finding Your Future" Participants

The Finding Your Future program is a 4-week intensive shadowing experience at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine to help students plan for careers in medicine. The Winthrop University students selected for the 2024 Finding Your Future program are Jamia White, Rachel Layens & Lannea Brown. This was a particularly competitive year with many excellent students applying for the program. The committee made its decision based on the strengths of the overall submissions that included academic performance, previous medical/research experiences & personal statements.