Ogden College of Science & Engineering, Western Kentucky University

We are excited to see WKU Department of Chemistry alumna Vicki Hopper Wysocki was announced as the new chair of the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Georgia Tech! https://lnkd.in/eJkKdfWK

Earlier this week, Dean Brown welcomed faculty and staff for another academic year on The Hill! It was nice to get everyone together again before the semester starts and get acquainted with our newest faculty and staff members!

Ogden College of Science and Engineering is excited to highlight our 2024-2025 Graduate Research Fellows! Rachel Foster, a native of Scottsville, Kentucky, received her bachelor’s degree from Transylvania University before returning to the Bowling Green area for her Master’s program in Biology. She currently does research in the lab of Dr. Joseph Marquardt in the Department of Biology. She has a passion for molecular and cellular biology and microbiology that came from an excellent professor at Transy, Dr. Duffin. These interests have cultivated an excellent mind for experimental design, troubleshooting, and data analysis that will set her up for success in the scientific field of her choice. Rachel’s current project is to investigate the molecular interactions of the morphogenesis checkpoint in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This checkpoint is critically important in coupling the cell growth machinery to that of mitosis and cell division. Errors in this pathway are easily screened by changes in the normal shape of the yeast cells. Homologs of the proteins in human cells have known mutations in various diseases such as cancer, male infertility, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s. Rachel’s fellowship will allow her to devote her full time to researching in the lab and applying state-of-the-art genome modification, fluorescent microscopy, and biochemistry to get an integrated approach to elucidating the complexities of the interacting partners of this pathway. She plans on finishing her master’s thesis by May of 2025 and wishes to pursue a Ph.D. in either molecular biology or microbiology. This unique funding opportunity serves to enable an enhanced research experience. Congratulations, Rachel!

Ogden College of Science and Engineering is excited to highlight our 2024-2025 Graduate Research Fellows! Kirstiana Brickman, a Master of Psychological Science student will focus her research efforts on neurocognition, language processing, and neuropsychological assessment. Her thesis work explores the electrophysiology of cognitive-linguistic sequela in the chronic stage of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery. Her goal is to bring together insight from standardized neuropsychological assessment and electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, in hopes of furthering understanding of the presence and persistence of TBI effects across developmental stages and mechanism of injury. Kirstiana completed her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Health Studies at Siena College in 2017, where she developed an interest in sensory and perceptual systems, neuropsychological assessment, and human behavior. Following her undergraduate studies, Kirstiana went on to assist neuropsychological assessments with patients across the lifespan, gaining experience in assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders, neurocognitive injuries, and aging related conditions. Looking ahead, Kirstiana aspires to complete a doctoral study in clinical psychology with focus in neuropsychological assessment and neurocognition. She holds interest in language and emotional processing in the context of social, emotional, and environmental stressors. This unique funding opportunity serves to enable an enhanced research experience. Congratulations, Kirstiana!

We spotted Dr. Keith Philips from our Department of Biology showing off his bug collection at the Nature Party and Petting Zoo! 🐞 🪲 The event, hosted by Westbrook Farms, the Warren County Public Library, Parks and Recreation, Wild Ones and Compost Bowling Green, brought hundreds of children to Buchanon Park on July 11!

We are pleased to announce that Drs. Mark Cambron and Guangming Xing will serve as Interim Co-Directors of the WKU School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)! Read more: https://lnkd.in/eckDiwvY

Help us congratulate Dr. Özkan Özer, an Associate Professor in WKU Mathematics, who was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Research Scholar award to represent Western Kentucky University in France beginning this fall! Read more: https://lnkd.in/eKjvbfhW

Help us congratulate Dr. Josh Durkee, University Meteorologist and Vice Chair of WKU Earth, Environmental, & Atmospheric Sciences, on winning one of 10 Conference USA Faculty Achievement Awards! Read more: https://lnkd.in/en3wHRSp

A five-year, $20 million National Science Foundation project -- Climate Resilience through Multidisciplinary Big Data Learning, Prediction & Building Response Systems (CLIMBS) -- will support research opportunities for Western Kentucky University faculty and students. WKU is one of eight Kentucky institutions participating in the project designed to enhance Kentucky’s long-term growth trajectory as a national leader in climate resiliency and hazard management that will promote industry-university partnerships and attract future funding. CLIMBS is funded by the NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR). Read more: https://lnkd.in/eCfEFgSt

Help us in welcoming Dr. Doug McElroy to the Ogden College of Science and Engineering leadership team! We are pleased to announce that Dr. McElroy will serve as the next Chair of the WKU Department of Biology. Dr. McElroy grew up in Baltimore and was a first-generation college student. He earned his bachelor’s degree in marine science from Southampton College of Long Island University. He went on to earn his M.S. and Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Maine and served as a postdoctoral fellow at Arizona State University. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/et7gAqxD