Georgetown University Department of Biology

05/22/2026

🎓 Huge congratulations to Ph.D. candidate Sam Sturiale on receiving the Artrice Valentine Bader Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the Georgetown University Department of Biology!

Named after Dr. Artrice Valentine Bader—the very first student to earn a Ph.D. in biology at Georgetown, this distinguished award recognizes exceptional academic achievement, research, and service.

Sam’s impactful contributions to ecological and evolutionary research, multiple publications, and competitive grant tracking are an incredible testament to her hard work alongside her advisor, Dr. Peter Armbruster.

Join us in celebrating Sam’s incredible dedication and success! 👏🧬

Read more about her achievements: https://biology.georgetown.edu/news-story/department-of-biology-honors-sam-sturiale-with-artrice-valentine-bader-outstanding-graduate-student-award/

Named in honor of Dr. Artrice Valentine Bader, the pioneering scientist who made history as the very first student to earn a Ph.D. in biology at Georgetown University, this distinguished annual award recognizes a graduate student who exemplifies exceptional academic achievement. Sam, a dedicated...

04/16/2026

🔬 Major Research Milestone! 🔬

Huge congratulations to three of our brilliant undergraduate Neurobiology majors: Chloe Lok ('23), Rachel Nokku ('26), and Grace Chu ('28) on their contribution to a major new paper published in Advanced Science! 👏📖

Working with Drosophila, the team helped uncover how the gene Chd1 (linked to human autism risk gene CHD2) acts as a "master regulator" of brain stability. 🧠✨

Why this matters:
Glia Power: The study reveals that glial cells play an essential role in keeping neural circuits stable.
Disease Insights: This provides a new framework for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders like autism, epilepsy, and intellectual disability.

We are so proud of our students for conducting high-impact research that pushes the boundaries of neuroscience!

04/16/2026

🧠 Seminar Alert! 🧠

Happening TODAY in the Department of Biology: We’re hosting Dr. Yingxi Lin from UT Southwestern for a deep dive into how our brains encode distinct memories through neuronal ensembles. 🧬

Bonus: Light refreshments served! 🍪

Tag a fellow biology student who needs to be there! 👇

04/07/2026

Big News from the Department of Biology! 🧬

Huge congratulations to Professor Jeffrey Huang for receiving a $150,691 grant from J-Pharma Co., Ltd.! This funding will support his vital research investigating how JPH034 impacts neuroinflammation associated with tauopathy.

We are so proud of the groundbreaking work happening in our labs! 👏✨

03/19/2026

From the Galápagos to Chernobyl... what can dogs tell us about human health? 🐾🔬

We are hosting Dr. Elaine Ostrander, a world-renowned expert from the NIH and the National Academy of Sciences! 🌟

Dr. Ostrander’s lab uses the domestic dog as a powerful model to understand the genetic basis of traits like cancer susceptibility and behavior. Whether it’s studying purebreds or dogs living in extreme environments, her research is transforming the future of medicine.

Don't miss this incredible talk!
🗓 Thursday, March 19
⏰ 12:30 PM
🏢 Regents Hall, Room 239

Tag a fellow biology enthusiast below! 👇

02/26/2026

Happening Today!

Please join us this afternoon for our Departmental Seminar Series, hosted by Assistant Professor Tiffany Zarrella. We are excited to welcome Dr. Joshua Shrout from the University of Notre Dame for an insightful presentation on the complex behaviors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Seminar Details

Time: 12:30 PM

Location: Regents 239

About the Speaker

Dr. Joshua Shrout is a Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences and the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame.

His research focuses on the fascinating world of bacterial surface motility and biofilm development, specifically how Pseudomonas aeruginosa interacts with its environment and neighboring cells. His lab utilizes advanced imaging and engineering perspectives to decode the social behaviors of these unique bacterial "neighbors."

Explore his work:

University of Notre Dame Faculty Profile: https://engineering.nd.edu/faculty/joshua-shrout/

The Shrout Lab Website: https://sites.nd.edu/shroutlab/

List of Publications: https://sites.nd.edu/shroutlab/publications/

☕ Light refreshments will be served. 🍴

We look forward to seeing you there!

12/25/2025

Wishing our global community a joyous holiday season and a heartfelt "Hoya Saxa!" 🎄✨

Warm regards,
Department of Biology

Wishing a Merry Christmas to our Hoya community near and far! 🎄

12/05/2025

Snow day won't stop the science! 🚀

We're still gathering TODAY for the Graduate Research Seminar Series (GRS), and we'd love for you to join us!

Grab a cup of something hot—we'll be serving yummy coffee to keep you warm—and join Danna Camelo (Brinsmade Lab) as she unlocks the secrets of "The Magic Treehouse." Danna will be exploring the hidden world of arthropods living high above and how complexity shapes their communities.

Don't miss out on this fascinating research!

⏰ Event Details
What: GRS Seminar (Danna Camelo)

When: TODAY, 3:30 PM

Where: Regents Hall, Room 239

See you soon!

10/30/2025

Looking for life beyond Earth? 🔭 Meet Kenzie Mounir! 🌟

This first-year Ph.D. student (G’30) is bringing interdisciplinary curiosity to Georgetown’s Department of Biology to study astrobiology: the search for life in the universe!

Kenzie is joining Professor Sarah Johnson’s Biosignatures Lab, which collaborates closely with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the Network for Life Detection. She hopes to expand on her previous research on lunar rock composition and discover more about the geologic history of outer space. 🌕🔬

Read more about Kenzie’s incredible journey and research: Full Story Link