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Additional Program Info
Student Clubs
Student Clubs
Biology majors have the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities, which include the student clubs, such as American Medical Student Association, Biology Club and Tri-Beta Honor Society. For activities, officers, advisors and other information, please see below.
AMSA Chapter
Club Officers:
President -- Alexandra Wagner
Vice-President -- Joshua Papp
Secretary -- Rachel Bohn
Treasurer -- Zach Murphy
Club Advisor --Anthony Serino, Ph.D.
Dead Cat Collection Sponsored by AMSA
Advisor -- Frank DiPino, Ph.D.
Biology Club
Club Officers:
President -- Nick Hendry
Vice-President -- Heather Marsico
Secretary -- Brian Kimball
Treasurer -- Lydia Watkins
Club Advisor -- Larry Corpus, Ph.D.
Tri-Beta Honor Society
Club Officers:
President -- Shannon Laul
Vice-President -- Kate Serino
Secretary -- Kathryn Heffner
Treasurer -- Kelsey Glavich
Historian -- Alie Messler
Club Advisor -- Cosima Wiese, Ph.D.
Biology News
- Dr. Linda Auker discusses invasive species on Naturally Speaking, a podcast from Nature Up North. Nature Up North is an environmental education and outreach project based at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.
- Reception honors second class of recipients in the Sister Mary Glennon Scholarships program
- Polar adventurer, author and educator to share life experiences during campus presentations
- Misericordia holds beam signing ceremony for Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Science Center
- Misericordia achieves national recognition in U.S. News & World Report's 2020 college rankings
- Board of Trustees to honor benefactors at annual Trustee Associates Gala
- Life empowerment strategist dares first-year students to dream during convocation ceremony
- Misericordia achieves Top 10 national ranking for four-year graduation rates
- Campus community welcomes new faculty members for 2019-20 academic year
- Exhibition ties health care and art together in 'Arts in Healthcare' showcase
Biology Alumni - Where are They Now?
Erin Evans
I am currently a second year Doctor of Optometry student at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. The biology program at Misericordia University further developed my science foundation, and prepared me to be able to advance both my education and career. Misericordia University has provided me with a thorough understanding of various biological subjects that has proven to meet the rigorous demands of graduate-level courses. I am a “hands-on" learner, and the laboratory work helped reinforce the lecture material. A Misericordia education has demonstrated to be an excellent foundation and the key to my success in optometry school as well as providing the basis to becoming a well-rounded health care provider.
Elizabeth Y Jasolosky, DO
UMDNJ-SOM Graduate 2011, Doctor of Osteopathy
Misericordia Graduate 2007, BS in Biology
Currently completing my last year of a Family Medicine Residency at Kent Hospital, Rhode Island and will be an attending physician in an outpatient practice July 2014. I feel privileged to have been educated at Misericordia and have the faculty of Miseri and its foundation to thank for guiding me in accomplishing my goals. I would never change my undergraduate training and continue to take pride in being a Misericordia Alumni!
Angela Burda
I am a 2008 graduate of Misericordia University's Biology program. During my time at Misericordia, I was encouraged to achieve in both my academics and extracurricular activities. My professors and advisers taught me how to manage challenging work while still remaining involved in social activities such as residence life and peer tutoring in order to ensure I received a well-rounded educational experience.
Because of the great support I received at Misericordia, I graduated with my Doctorate in Optometry from The Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in May 2012. I am now an Associate Optometrist for Visionworks of America, Inc. and love what I do for a living. The education and support I received at Misericordia made it happen!
Lindsay Stavish (Smith)
I am a 2009 Misericordia graduate with a bachelor's in Biology with minors in Chemistry and English. In 2012, I completed my master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies at King's College. I currently reside in Shavertown with my husband and started working as a physician assistant in September 2012 at Dallas Family Practice, Dallas, PA. My Misericordia education was definitely a pivotal puzzle piece to be where I am today. The small class sizes compared to bigger universities were definitely a benefit when dealing with the rigorous biology curriculum. My relationships with the professors also helped to push and challenge me throughout my education and influenced me in my accomplishments thus far.
Megan Yetter
My name is Megan Yetter and I am a Misericordia University Biology graduate of 2009. I am a Physician Assistant in the United States Navy, stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and currently on deployment orders to Afghanistan. The education I received from Misericordia University's Biology Department prepared and provided me a strong foundation to further my education in becoming a competent Physician Assistant. I am privileged to be a Misericordia Biology Alumni.
Krista Koch
After completing medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012, I started my career as a Naval physician in Portsmouth, VA as a Transitional Intern. Following graduation in June 2013, I began Flight Surgery Training in Pensacola, FL studying to fly with pilots; while also learning to be their "DOC." I will spend 3-4 years in the fleet with the ultimate goal of anesthesia residency. My Misericordia education prepared me not only in the classroom, but also in day to day life. Misericordia provided a solid foundation on which I am continuing to build. It also taught me that no matter where you come from, you never know where life may take you.
Jamie Derr
Upon graduation from Misericordia, I landed my first job in the QC Microbiology department at Sanofi Pasteur, a worldwide vaccine manufacturer. Many of the tests I performed were taught in my upper level science courses, especially Dr. DiPino's microbiology and molecular courses. The Miseri science staff is excellent, which I took for granted until I entered the job market and continuing education. I had valuable knowledge from the classroom that could be applied in the pharmaceutical industry where I got my start, and now at my current position as a microbiologist at the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation. The major focus of my job is to test allografts to ensure they are bacteria and fungus free, so that the recipient's health will not be compromised upon transplantation. My career so far has been rewarding, knowing that I had a part in keeping people safe. I plan to continue my education and enter the healthcare field.
Caitlin Cromley
I am a December 2012 graduate of the Biology program at Misericordia University. I am now studying to be a Physical Therapist in Misericordia University's Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program. My Misericordia Biology education and background has been instrumental in my transition to graduate level education. I was able to handle the workload and studying with confidence and minimal stress. I felt that I was thoroughly prepared. Majoring in Biology at Misericordia has given me the tools and skills that I will use in higher education and further on in life.
Anthony Pirouz
I am currently a physician assistant student at Loma Linda University. The academic level and pace of the program is rigorous. While at Misericordia as a biology major, I was fortunate to have a few professors that saw my scholastic aptitude and created a nurturing and supportive environment for me to become a successful student. An education is what you make of it. I used my time at Misericordia to utilize the faculty and resources available to learn, grow, and cultivate critical thinking skills. Those skills and the knowledge imparted to me by a plethora patient professors and faculty potentiate my transition to graduate school.
Student Research & Opportunities
Students majoring in biology have the opportunity to participate in research through ongoing projects initiated by faculty, where three to four students are paired with and supervised by an individual faculty member. During the spring semester of the junior or senior year, students can present their research findings with a capstone presentation held at Misericordia University.
Students are invited annually to present their work at venues outside of the University, exposing their research to a more broad scientific community outside of the northeastern Pennsylvania region.
Interested in learning more about student research opportunities at Misericordia University? Request information.
Research Internships
In addition to research performed throughout the academic year, students also have the opportunity to participate in research internships at academic institutions and organizations outside of the University.
Misericordia biology majors have held summer research internships at institutions including Johns Hopkins University, Emory University School of Medicine, Brown University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. These internships lead to careers in graduate school, medicine, veterinary medicine, optometry, forensics, physician assistant, and professional degree programs.
Students may also seek summer internship opportunities at organizations including the National Science Foundation, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences(NIH).
Summer Science Fellowship
The Misericordia University Summer Science Research Fellowship is a 10-week program funded by a Misericordia University grant that provides a $4,000 stipend to each student fellow.
The 2016 Misericordia University Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program mapped historic Pittston, examined Schwann cell lines, measured social participation improvement in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and much more.
More importantly, though, it engaged 39 students and 19 faculty mentors in complex scientific and scholarly research in traditional laboratories on campus, and at various locations in the field. Furthermore, the program provides fellows with opportunities to grow by collaborating with other students, faculty and outside scholars. Critical thinking and independent learning skills are developed further as they explore beyond their current boundaries while seeking to develop new knowledge using innovative technology and methodology.
Research Presentations
- American Association for Cell Biology 2016, San Francisco, CA
- Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences 2016
- Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences 2015
American Association for Cell Biology 2016, San Francisco, CA
Michael Blazaskie
Atasha Rehrig
Junior biology majors Michael Blazaskie of Hanover Township and Atasha Rehrig of Lehighton, and senior biology majors Grace Emmett of Mountain Top and Andrea Nale of Gilbert, along with faculty members Jeffrey Stephens, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics, and Angela Asirvatham, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Department of Biology, presented their research, “Expression of Anchoring Proteins and Phosphatases Correlates with cAMP Levels in Immortalized Rat Schwann Cell Lines.” The interdisciplinary project, which studied the regulation of Schwann cells in rats, involved the departments of biology and physics.
Michael Rehrig, Atasha Blazaskie and Dr. Asirvatham presented their research, “Are A-Kinase Anchoring Proteins Involved in Myelination?,” a study of how Cyclic AMP – the universal second messenger – coordinates the balance between Schwann cell differentiation and its proliferation.
Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences 2016
Corinne Breymeier
Noelle Mondulick
Zachary Sabaday
In April of 2016, students and faculty presented their research at the 92nd PA Academy of Sciences (PAS) meeting at Delaware Valley College, in Doylestown, PA.
Corinne Breymeier, Biology major, along with Dr. Cosima Wiese, Associate Professor of Biology, presented their research, "The Effects of acid on chlorophyll production of common duckweed (Lemna minor L.)."
Noelle Mondulick, Shawna Stevens, both Biology majors, and Dr. Angela Asirvatham, Chairperson of the Biology Department & Associate Professor of Biology, presented, "Phosphodiesterase 7A Expression and Location within Immortalized Schwann Cells."
Biology major, Zachary Sabaday, and Dr. Cosima Wiese presented, "The Effect of Copper Accumulation on Common Duckweed (Lemna minor)."
Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences 2015
In April of 2015, students and faculty presented their research at the 91st PA Academy of Sciences (PAS) meeting at Lebanon Valley College, in Annville, PA.
Biology major, Zachary Murphy, took first place for his poster presentation, “Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery Alters Oleolyethanolamide (OEA) Mediated Ingestive Behavioral Responses” and was presented the Anne Spychala Award, which is given to the top undergraduate and graduate student-authored posters and oral presentations.