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Banta lab attends conference at Purdue, September 2024
Student researchers Lili Winkelman and Emily Yoon recently presented at the 44th Annual Crown Gall Conference at Purdue University. Attending the conference on behalf of the Banta lab (pictured left to right) were Luke Young-Xu, Professor Lois Banta, Lili and Emily.
Spring 2024 Data Blitz and Thesis Poster Presentations
The department’s thesis students presented their research and findings on Friday, 5/3/24. Following short one-minute student presentations to a general audience, the event later moved to the second floor of Hopper Science Center where student posters are displayed.
Alumni Research Reunion (2/23/2024)
The department welcomed four alumni (Alice Stears ’15, Rebecca Gorelov ’18, Rachel Oren ’18 & Abraham Steinberger ’20) back to campus for a panel discussion about their science research after graduating Williams. A poster presentation followed the discussion, providing current students the opportunity to ask further questions about their experiences.
The Biology Big Buildoff (better known as B cubed)
Biology thesis students gathered during Winter Study with the challenge of building gingerbread structures, creating work that reflected lab work in Biology.
Gill lab attends AGU (American Geophysical Union) Annual Meeting in San Francisco
Pictured from the Gill lab are Maddie Annis ’23, Katharine Cook ’24, Patrick Hodgson ’22, faculty member Allison Gill, Joanie Cha ’24, and Josh Bruns ’25.
Decorating holiday cookies with the Swoap lab
Society for Neuroscience meeting, November 2023
Biology professor Matt Carter connected with past thesis students at the recent Society for Neuroscience meeting. From left to right, Rachel Essner ‘16, Rachel O’Sullivan ‘17, Professor Carter, Maria Vicent ‘16, and Zoe Kaegi ‘23. Zoe presented her work in the Carter lab and the other three Williams graduates are now in PhD programs.
Winter Study 2023
During this year’s Winter Study, Holland lab members set up an experiment with 5th grade students at Lanesborough Elementary to test the effects of grape flavoring as a bird deterrent. Pictured left to right: Prof. Cynthia Holland, Aracely Watson ‘25, Michael Fallon ‘24, Hisham Tadfie ‘23, Miriam Li ‘23, and Cameron Darnell ‘25. Photo credit: Sean MacDonald
Biology staff member Debra Rogers-Gillig, who has served as a technical assistant in the department for 31 years, created a stunning 10′ x 10′ quilt for the Hopper Science Center focal wall. Each quilt panel represents the lab courses in our curriculum.
Conservation Biology samples tree diversity
Students in Conservation Biology sampled tree diversity as part of their lab work in the Fall 2022 term, locating a magnificent sugar maple. Pictured from left to right are SJ Brusini ’23, Robin Henrikson ’24, and Sophia Trone ’24.
Wearing new safety vests as they traveled through the woods, our Ecology students made their way to the top of The Dome in nearby Vermont during the Fall 2022 term. Ecology climbs to the top of The Dome to characterize how forest structure changes across elevational gradients and observe the transition between temperate hardwood and boreal forest.
Summer 2022 Poster Session
As part of a vibrant summer program, a total of about 190 students pursue research projects under the direction of Williams science and math faculty members. Approximately 35-40 Williams students conduct research in Biology, working intensively with a faculty mentor for 9-10 weeks on the faculty member’s research. The program culminates in a science division-wide poster session. Pictured are Luke Young-Xu ’25, Max Song ’23 and Maki Yoshimura ’23.
Thesis students present at the Ecological Society of America meeting
Students in Professor Allison Gill’s lab attended the Ecological Society of America meeting in Montreal, Canada in August 2022 and presented ongoing work on carbon and nitrogen cycling at Hopkins Forest, a local reserve located in Williamstown. Pictured at the meeting are Biology thesis students Patrick Hodgson ’22, Aaron Stanton ’22, Angela Hsuan Chen ’23 and Maddie Annis ’23.