Olivet Nazarene University - Biology

06/24/2026

Just when we thought Dr. Long had tried it all.

Between teaching Biology, beekeeping, 3D printing, the auto repairs, and playing the euphonium, this week he added veterinary medicine to the list.

ONU alumnus, adjunct professor, and veterinarian Dr. Michael Leppin invited Dr. Long to tag along on large and small animal appointments. By the end of the day, there had been plenty of livestock handling and at least one goat that probably had opinions about the whole experience.

Thanks to Dr. Leppin for sharing his day and giving Dr. Long another skill to add to his ever-growing résumé.

06/22/2026

Along with mission and research trips this summer, our students have also been earning academic credits in a completely different climate this month.

A group of 11 students have been traveling across Iceland for our Arctic Field Ecology course, taught and accompanied by biology professors Dr. Parry Kietzman and Dr. David Hoekman. This isn’t just a sightseeing trip. It is a rigorous, credit-earning field studies course that gives our Biology majors their core ecology credit and our Zoology majors their required field studies credit. The program is open to students of all majors, and this year’s group has spent the last few weeks out in the elements collecting data, conducting research, and studying Arctic ecosystems firsthand.

Their schedule changes from day to day as they move between coastal fjords, geothermal areas, and tundra habitats. Some mornings are spent whale watching off the northern coast or tracking wildlife near marine environments. Other days involve hikes through volcanic terrain, exploring glacial areas, and working directly alongside researchers at local stations.

This experience gives students a chance to see these ecological concepts function in the real world. It also offers a unique, hands-on perspective on what stewardship and caring for God’s creation looks like in practice.

These field courses are taught every year, rotating through three different locations. Our other field courses travel to Costa Rica and Africa.

The current team is wrapping up their final few days in Iceland before heading back home. Please keep them in your prayers for safe travels back!

Here are a few highlights from their time in Iceland so far.

06/15/2026

Last week, we shared photos from the Shalom Project team’s time in Papua New Guinea. Another part of that trip was spent in the lab.

Dr. Nicole Vander Schaaf, 2026 ONU graduate Sadie Blaszczyk, and current ONU student Kimber Cobbs are continuing work on a low-cost HPV screening test aimed at helping women in Papua New Guinea get screened for cervical cancer earlier and more affordably.

This project has been years in the making. What started as undergraduate research at ONU has grown into annual trips to Papua New Guinea, where the team works alongside local healthcare professionals to test and improve the screening process. Along the way, they’ve worked through challenge after challenge, from reducing false results to transporting sensitive testing materials more than 8,000 miles to Papua New Guinea.

This year’s focus was expanding the study and continuing to validate the test against PCR results. The team made encouraging progress and collected more data as they worked toward a screening method that is affordable and practical for hospitals with limited resources.

The urgency behind this work is clear. Papua New Guinea has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the world. Many women live far from medical care, and traditional testing can be expensive and difficult to access. A lower-cost test creates more opportunities for women to be screened, and women who test positive for high-risk HPV can often receive treatment the same day rather than waiting weeks for results and follow-up care.

The photos show lab work, test results, equipment packed across the world in suitcases, and a lot of long days. What they don’t show are the years of work that came before this trip. Countless hours in the lab. Student researchers building on the work of the students before them. Small improvements made one step at a time.

And the work isn’t finished. The team will continue building on these results as they work toward making HPV screening more accessible for women in PNG.

We’re grateful for Dr. V, Sadie, Kimber, and the ONU students who have contributed to this work over the years, along with our partners at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital who help make it possible.

06/09/2026

As our Shalom Project team enters the final days of their time in Papua New Guinea, we’re grateful for the many opportunities they’ve had to learn, serve, and build relationships along the way.

Over the past several weeks, students have worked alongside healthcare professionals, worshiped with local churches, spent time with families and children, and experienced firsthand how faith, science, and service can come together to care for others.

For many, this has been a unique opportunity to grow in their understanding of healthcare, deepen their faith, and build meaningful relationships with the people they’ve met along the way.

A special thank you to Dr. Nicole Vander Schaaf, Dr. Michael Wade, and Dr. Mike Pyle for mentoring our students throughout this experience.

We’ll be sharing more soon about the HPV research efforts taking place alongside the Shalom Project during the team’s time in Papua New Guinea.

Please continue to pray for the team as they finish their time in Papua New Guinea and begin their journey home in the coming days.

05/28/2026

Our Biology and Engineering Guatemala team returned home this week after serving alongside partners at El Puente mission station in Chisec, Guatemala, home to AgInno Institute, and later with Mission Impact in San Pedro El Cerro.

Dr. Nick Troendle, Stephanie Troendle, biology students Hanna Chung and Sophie Dagnall, along with Dr. Joe Schroeder, Troy Lovell, and ONU engineering students spent time working on projects focused on sustainable food systems and community health.

While in Chisec, the engineering team worked on an automated fish feeding machine for the tilapia aquaculture facility, while the biology team designed and constructed a tilapia breeding system. Together, these projects help support reliable food access and additional income opportunities within local communities. The team also helped catch and sort more than 2,400 tilapia!

After the Engineering team returned home, the Biology team continued on to San Pedro El Cerro to partner with Mission Impact in building fuel-efficient wood stoves for local families. These stoves use less wood and safely vent smoke outside the home, helping reduce serious health risks caused by indoor smoke exposure from open-fire cooking.

It was a great opportunity for students to see science, faith, and service come together in practical ways while working alongside communities in Guatemala!

05/19/2026

ONU Biology faculty and students have officially arrived in Papua New Guinea and Guatemala for two exciting international trips!

Dr. Nicole Vander Schaaf and students recently arrived at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea as part of ONU’s Shalom Project, where they’ll be supporting ongoing medical and HPV testing research alongside missionaries and partners in the region.

At the same time, Dr. Nick Troendle and students arrived at El Puente mission station in Guatemala to continue collaborative ONU Biology and Engineering work with partners at AgInno Institute.

Please join us in praying for safe travels, meaningful connections, and impactful work throughout these trips.

We’re looking forward to sharing more information, photos and updates in the coming weeks!

05/12/2026

We are so proud to share that two Biology graduates received ONU’s top senior honors awards at Saturday’s commencement ceremony.

Sadie Blaszczyk received the Maggie Sloan Crawford Honors Award, and Kyle Neuber received the Robert M. Milner Honors Award. These awards recognize one woman and one man among the entire graduating class who exemplify outstanding academic achievement, Christian character, leadership, and service.

Having both awards go to Biology majors from the Class of 2026 is such a special honor. Congratulations, Sadie and Kyle!

05/09/2026

This morning, we celebrated the Class of 2026 with a graduation breakfast reception.

It was great getting to spend time with our graduates and their families, hear about their plans after Olivet, and celebrate everything they’ve accomplished over the last few years. Students shared plans ranging from medical school, veterinary school, PhD and master’s programs, research and environmental work, teaching, and even a position at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

This year, we’re celebrating 26 graduates across Biology, Zoology, Environmental Science, and Science Education majors within ONU’s Walker D. Martin School of STEM.

We’re proud of this group and excited to see where life takes them next. Congratulations, Class of 2026!

05/07/2026

Dr. Parry Kietzman was recently featured on Shine.FM’s “The Home and the Maker” podcast talking about pollinators, native plants, and simple ways we can better support local ecosystems.

The episode also highlights ONU’s Swanberg Sanctuary near Momence, a 100-acre preserve used for student research, conservation work, and field classes for biology, zoology, and environmental science students.

It’s a really interesting conversation with practical gardening tips and a thoughtful look at stewardship, creation, and caring for the natural world around us.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/OggiC_7RkqU?si=J9HbOtDJk2VQ5Xtp

Why are pollinators, like bees and butterflies, so important to the garden, and how do we encourage their presence? And why are native plants and wildflowers...

05/01/2026

☕️ Biophilic Club is hosting a Pop Up Cafe upstairs in the Reed Atrium this morning. 🍩

Stop by before 10:30 am, or while supplies last, for coffee with lots of add-ins and some treats. Big thanks to Cafe Leo for helping sponsor the event. Pictured here are bio majors Griffin and Miles helping run the pop up this morning.

Cafe Leo is the coffee hangout in Dr. Aggie Veld’s office where students from all majors stop in to spend time, study, and connect. It started a few years ago and was named in honor of Dr. Leo Finkenbinder, a longtime biology professor whose love for students, creation, and community made a lasting impact here at Olivet.

Come grab a cup while you can.