Category: Pre-med

Grace Gonzalez – Journey through MTU’s Biological Sciences

Grace Gonzalez graduated from Michigan Tech’s Medical Laboratory Science program in 2023, but her passions didn’t end with only MLS. During her time at Michigan Tech, Gonzalez delved into her interests in human medicine as well as animal care. She began doing aquatic research with Biological Sciences professors Dr. Casey Huckins and Dr. Jill Olin, started Michigan Tech’s Aquarium Society, and even volunteered at the local wildlife rehab, just to name a few. Now, she is beginning her journey into veterinary medicine at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Read more about Grace’s experiences at Michigan Tech, what inspired her to lead this journey, and those who supported her along the way—including MLS’s Claire Danielson, Sarah LewAllen, and Brigitte Morin—on our Pre-Health Professions blog post From Fish Tanks To White Coats: Grace’s Vet School Journey.

Grace Gonzalez
Grace Gonzalez

About the Biological Sciences Department

Biological scientists at Michigan Technological University help students apply academic concepts to real-world issues: improving healthcare, conserving biodiversity, advancing agriculture, and unlocking the secrets of evolution and genetics. The Biological Sciences Department offers seven undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees. Supercharge your biology skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business landscape.

Questions? Contact us at biology@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest happenings.

Swift Strides of Science: Human Biology Student Outpaces Opponents in the Canal Run

Ingrid Seagren
Ingrid Seagren, Canal Run Winner and Human Bio Major

Ingrid Seagren competed in the Canal Run 5K, winning the women’s category and finishing 5th overall. She is going into her sophomore year pursuing a major in Human Biology with minors in pre-health and German. After she graduates, she plans to go to medical school and eventually become a physician. Plus, Ingrid is very active in the local community: 2023 Strawberry Fest Queen candidate, Michigan Tech Cross Country and Track and Field runner, and outdoor enthusiast.

Ingrid has volunteered with the Let’s Eat Community Meals through her church. As a high school student, she was a member of the Interact Club and was involved in numerous service activities, such as making Veteran’s Day Baskets and hosting Fun Days for elementary school students.

Ingrid is also a good student. She was named to Michigan Tech’s Dean’s List in both the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters and was recognized as a member of the Fall 2022 GLIAC Academic All-Excellence Team. As a high school student, she was a member of the National Honor Society.

In her free time, Ingrid enjoys Nordic skiing, waterskiing, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. Congratulations to Ingrid on her running, community and academic accomplishments!

Biological Sciences Faculty Members Receive Exceptional Spring 2023 Student Evaluation Scores

Heartiest congratulations to the following 10 instructors from the Biological Sciences Department who have been identified as some of the only 74 campus-wide instructors who received exceptional “Average of Seven dimensions” student evaluation scores during the Spring 2023 semester.

Only 89 sections university-wide (out of more than 1,411 evaluated) were rated so highly by the students. Their scores were in the top 10% of similarly sized sections university-wide, with at least a 50% response rate and a minimum of five responses.

Provost Storer recently congratulated them for their outstanding accomplishments in teaching.  

The following faculty/staff/graduate students received the recognition based on an average of 7 elements of a university-wide class size group with a response rate of >50% on student evaluations of their lecture/lab classes:

  • Dr. Casey Huckins, Professor and Associate Chair
  • Ms. Brigitte Morin, MS, Associate Teaching Professor (Winner of MTU teaching award in 2018)
  • Dr. Gordon Paterson, Assistant Professor
  • Ms. Claire Danielson, MS, MLS Program Director, and Assistant Teaching Professor (Nominated for the MTU teaching award, 2022 and 2023)
  • Ms. Sarah LewAllen, MS, MLS Program Coordinator
  • Ms. Jenna Disser, MS Graduate Student
  • Mr. Karl Schneider, Ph.D. Graduate Student
  • Ms. Michelle Kelly, Ph.D. Graduate Student
  • Ms. Nicole Roeper, MS, Director, Pre-Health Professions, and Instructor
  • Mr. Hunter Roose, MS Graduate Student

We are very proud of these achievements, and we thank them and you all for fulfilling the educational mission of our university!

The departmental student rating average for Spring 2023 was 4.51 out of 5. Since 2013, our faculty, staff, and students have been in this top 10% of teachers list 162 times.

29th Annual Student Leadership Awards: BioSci Recipients

Several students in our department were recipients of the 29th Annual Student Leadership Awards this year in recognition for their truly incredible accomplishments! Please join us in congratulating them!

Student Employee of the Year:
Enioluwa Wright
Human Biology with a Pre-Health minor

Rising Star of the Year:
Riley Stichter
Human Biology with Pre-Health and Public Health minors

Department Scholar:
Haley Marchese
Medical Laboratory Science with a Pre-Health minor

The keynote speaker, Dr. Jessica Thompson (Thoresen) ’12 (B.S., Biological Sciences), was also recognized as the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

More information about the awards and the recipients can be found on the Student Leadership Awards webpage. We also invite everyone to save the date for the 30th Annual Student Leadership Awards Ceremony, which will be held April 12, 2024, in the MUB Ballroom.

Enioluwa Wright
Enioluwa Wright
Riley Stichter
Riley Stichter
Haley Marchese
Haley Marchese

2022 Provost’s Award Winner Plans to Practice Rural Medicine

Christian Johnson won the 2022 Provost’s Award for Academics. He is pursuing a double major in Human Biology and English.  

Johnson’s goal is to attend medical school and become a primary care physician in a rural area. 

A native of Detroit, he chose Michigan Tech because the small size of the university and community appealed to him. He found the faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences so helpful.  He visited Tech many times and participated in a Summer Youth Program. “I could see myself being part of the Michigan Tech community,” he says.

Christian Johnson
Christian Johnson

He worked with Greg Miodonski, a graduate student in Qinghui Chen’s lab. They studied the effect of exercise training on cardiovascular function in animals.  Chen is a professor of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology and an affiliated professor of Biological Sciences and Biomedical Engineering. 

The research investigated how exercise impacts the function of small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) of rodents. It aimed to assess whether exercise could augment SK channel function in normotensive and hypertensive rats and, consequently, sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure.  

“Christian was an invaluable assistant, and his Cool Hand Luke demeanor will be missed,” said Miodonski. “Working with rodents is challenging and can be intimidating, but Christian took to the rodents immediately. Unlike exercising humans, exercising rodents poses several challenges. Mainly, rodents are poor listeners and don’t follow instructions too well. This means that exercising them requires diligence, focus, and lots of patience. Christian exhibited all of these qualities. Some undergraduate assistants require a lot of mentoring and instruction before gaining autonomy, but not Christian. A quick study, he handled obstacles exactly how I would have and impressed me at every turn. Christian also aided me with recording blood pressures in conscious rodents. This is challenging and requires constant attention for many hours. Here again, Christian exceeded expectations.”

In addition to research, Johnson immersed himself in many activities at Michigan Tech, including the Blue Key National Honor Society, Alpha Epsilon Delta—the National Health Pre-Professional Honor Society, the Pavlis Honors College, the Pre-Health Association, and Sexual Assault and Violence Education. He also worked as a writing coach in the Michigan Tech Writing Center, served as a resident assistant, and worked in various other mentoring roles. Christian found time to serve as an active volunteer for Dial Help. He also recently had a piece of his creative writing published.

This summer, he studied at the University of Stirling in Scotland, where he took courses to fulfill major requirements for his English degree.

“When I heard that I received the Provost’s Award, I was shocked,” Johnson says. “Hearing all of the work I have been putting in and my accomplishments being read aloud; picking up the plaque; and shaking Dean Kampe’s, Dean Southerland’s, and President Koubek’s hands is a moment I will never forget.”

Johnson is currently applying to medical schools. Being from Detroit and living in Houghton, he has had the opportunity to see medical care in both urban and rural settings. Working with Dial Help particularly opened his eyes to the struggles that rural area residents face in accessing resources and being able to see a physician. “That experience made me want to serve rural areas and help with the primary care physician shortages in those areas,” he says.  

This blog post initially appeared in the Fall 2022 Biological Sciences Newsletter. Read this article and others like it today.

Morin finalist Distinguished Teaching Awards

image77518-persThe William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning seeks input for its annual Distinguished Teaching Awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to the instructional mission of the University.

Based on more than 50,000 student ratings of instruction responses, ten finalists have been identified for the 2017 awards. The selection committee is soliciting comments from students, staff, faculty and alumni to aid in deliberation.

Brigitte Morin is a finalist in the Assistant Professor/Lecturer/Professor of Practice Category

Applications for summer 2017 Portage Health Foundation Graduate Assistantships

Screen Shot 2017-01-16 at 8.39.25 AMApplications for summer 2017 Portage Health Foundation Graduate Assistantships are being accepted and are due no later than 4 p.m. Feb. 14 to Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School. Instructions on the application and evaluation process are online.

Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

  • Must be a PhD student participating in health-related research that is aligned with the PHF’s mission
  • Must be eligible for or in Research Mode at the time of application
  • It must be two years after starting the graduate program at the time of application
  • Must not have previously received a PHF Graduate Assistantship

Priority will be given to students originally from Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga or Ontonagon counties. Non-resident students and international students are encouraged to apply if their health research is applicable to health needs and job shortages of our local community (obesity research, rural health, medical informatics, drug delivery and lab testing, physical therapy, etc.).

These assistantships are available through the generosity of the Portage Health Foundation. They are intended to recognize outstanding PhD talent in health-oriented research areas. Applicants should be catalysts for promoting and improving the overall health of residents in Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon counties through one of the following:

  • Health research and technology development
  • Health education or preventive and wellness initiatives
  • Rural healthcare access, informatics and assessment of care

Students who receive full support through a PHF Graduate Assistantship may not accept any other employment. For example, students cannot be fully supported by a PHF Graduate Assistantship and accept support as a GTA or GRA.

Students participate in simulated advanced suture lab exercise

army suture labSergeant Marone and Sergeant Stewart with the US Army returned to campus last night to teach an Advanced Suture lab to ten pre-med/pre-vet students. Students learn suturing techniques using pig legs.  The class was a follow-up to the suture lab held in November with Sergeant Marone and Sergeant Cunningham. They also talked about Army career and scholarship opportunities for premed students.

Medical Careers Week, Jan. 19-22

Michigan Tech’s Career Fest presents four days of events designed to highlight careers in the medical field. Open to all students, faculty and the community, Medical Careers Week will be held Jan. 19 to 22. Events will take place in the MUB Ballroom. Here are some highlights of the week’s activities.

  • Jan. 19 — Medical Informatics Day: Learn more about one of the fastest growing parts of the medical field. Medical Informatics applies to a variety of majors including IT, Computer Science, Computer Network System Administration, Health Sciences and Engineering. Lunch-N-Learn Keynote speaker:  James Ryan, DO.
  • Jan. 20 — Medical Device Day: Meet representatives from biomedical companies to see how your major can make a difference. Lunch-N-Learn keynote speaker: Jim Belmonte, Cardiovascular Systems Inc. (St. Paul)
  • Jan. 21 — Medical Careers/Medical Laboratory Science Day: Learn how to attend medical school through the entire application process. Hear first hand from medical students, physicians assistants and laboratory specialists on how to shape your career path in the medical field. Lunch-N-Learn keynote speaker: William Short, MD and medical students from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
  • Jan. 22 — Allied Health Day: Allied Health comprises nearly 60 percent of the healthcare workforce. Lunch-N-Learn keynote speaker: Petio Kotov, MD, Pathology – UP Health System.

For a complete schedule of all activities and events visit the Career Services website.

Enhanced Med School Program to Expand

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and its Upper Peninsula higher education partners, including Michigan Tech, will announce an agreement today to establish a cooperative program of premedical education by which students of Bay College who transfer as undergraduate premedical students will have the opportunity to be granted an enhanced opportunity for admission to MSU College of Human Medicine. Lake Superior State and Northern Michigan are also part of the agreement.

The formal announcement will take place at 11 a.m. today at Bay College in Escanaba. Stacy Cotey, academic advisor and director of pre-health professions, will be on hand to represent Michigan Tech.