Georgetown University Department of Biology

10/15/2026

Happening Today!
Join us this afternoon for our Departmental Seminar Series, hosted by Tiffany Zarrella. We are excited to welcome Dr. Kristi Frank, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Uniformed Services University. Whether you are interested in microbiology, bacterial physiology, surface homeostasis, or host-pathogen interactions, this session promises engaging findings and valuable discussion. Bring your questions! Faculty, postdocs, students, and staff are all encouraged to join the presentation and participate in the Q&A session.

About the Speaker
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Dr. Kristi Frank serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Frank's research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial cell envelope homeostasis, stress responses, and antibiotic resistance in Gram-positive opportunistic pathogens, particularly Enterococcus faecalis. Her lab investigates how bacterial cell wall modifications contribute to pathogenesis, immune evasion, and survival within host environments, providing crucial insights into cell division, biofilm formation, and persistent hospital-acquired infections.

10/08/2026

Join us for our Departmental Seminar Series, hosted by Maryam Kohram. We are excited to welcome Dr. Alison Patteson, Associate Professor of Physics and Co-Chair of the Community Committee at Syracuse University.

Whether you are interested in biophysics, soft condensed matter, cellular mechanics, or biomaterials, this session promises engaging findings and valuable discussion. Bring your questions! Faculty, postdocs, students, and staff are all encouraged to join the presentation and participate in the Q&A session.

About the Speaker:
Dr. Alison Patteson serves as Associate Professor of Physics and Co-Chair of the Community Committee at Syracuse University.

Dr. Patteson’s research focuses on the physical mechanisms governing cell motility, tissue mechanics, and the interactions between biological cells and complex microenvironments. Her lab combines principles of soft matter physics, fluid dynamics, and live-cell imaging to investigate how physical forces influence cellular behaviors, such as cancer cell invasion, biofilm formation, and immune responses. Beyond unraveling fundamental biomechanical principles, her work provides crucial insights into host-pathogen interactions and disease progression.

10/08/2026

Join us for our Departmental Seminar Series, hosted by Manus Patten. We are excited to welcome Dr. Katja Kasimatis, Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Virginia (UVA).

Whether you are interested in evolutionary biology, population genetics, developmental biology, or sex-specific selection, this session promises engaging findings and valuable discussion. Bring your questions! Faculty, postdocs, students, and staff are all encouraged to join the presentation and participate in the Q&A session.

About the Speaker
Dr. Katja Kasimatis is an Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Virginia.

Dr. Kasimatis’s research sits at the intersection of evolutionary biology, population genetics, and developmental biology, focusing on how males and females can evolve radically different traits despite sharing nearly identical genomes. Her research team combines empirical experiments in model organisms (such as C. elegans) with computational and theoretical population genetics to untangle the molecular signatures and evolutionary trade-offs driven by sex-specific selection across the lifespan.

Explore her work:
UVA Biology Faculty Profile: https://bio.as.virginia.edu/people/katja-kasimatis

UVA EEB Program Profile: https://www.eebvirginia.org/katja-kasimatis
Kasimatis Lab Webpage: https://www.conflictgenomics.com/

09/25/2026

Throwback to our insightful seminar on September 17th! 🧠🔬

We were honored to host Dr. Ryohei Yasuda, Scientific Director and Managing Director at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI). Dr. Yasuda presented his work on “Decoding neuronal biochemical signaling for synaptic plasticity.”

Thank you to Dr. Yasuda for sharing his groundbreaking research with us, and to Haiyan He for hosting such a great session!

09/10/2026

Join us Sep 10th from 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM in Regents 239 for an exciting presentation by Dr. Rebecca Helm, Assistant Professor at The Earth Commons Institute, Georgetown University.

Hosted by Martha Weiss, this talk will take a deep dive into open-ocean neuston, surface currents, and the floating marine life of the high seas.

Dr. Helm’s research combines field expeditions, organismal biology, and ecological modeling to explore how jellyfish and floating ecosystems navigate oceanic currents—plus how ocean science intersects with policy and conservation.

All faculty, postdocs, students, and staff are encouraged to attend and participate in the Q&A! Bring your curiosity and your questions.

09/08/2026

ICYMI: Last Thursday, we had a fantastic turn-out for our Department of Biology seminar featuring Dr. Melissa McCormick! 🌸🌿

Dr. McCormick, Principal Investigator and Senior Scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, shared fascinating insights into her research on "Interaction specificity and island communities," using orchid populations in the Republic of Palau as a powerful example. A huge thank you to Dr. McCormick for sharing her expertise with us, and to Martha Weiss for hosting such a stimulating session.

Looking forward to more great discussions this semester!

09/08/2026

Hope everyone had a fantastic Labor Day weekend! Wishing you all a smooth and productive transition into the rest of the week. ☀️

07/30/2026

☀️ Summer updates from Biology at Georgetown! ☀️

We’ve been a bit quiet on social media over the summer, but our faculty and graduate students have been hard at work making big moves!

Here is what we’ve been up to:
🔍 Faculty Feature: Biology professor and entomologist Martha Weiss was featured in Georgetown University's "Ask a Professor" series this month, discussing the spotted lanternfly invasion spreading across the DC area. Weiss explains the insect's life cycle, why it's likely here to stay, and what people can actually do about it, including her advice to look for and remove egg masses in early spring.

🎓 Graduate Success: Dr. Sam Sturiale successfully defended and passed her dissertation!

🏆 Grant Award: Katie Boone received the prestigious AART Training Program Grant, securing two years of stipend support and research funding!

Congratulations to Sam, Katie, and Dr. Weiss! We couldn't be prouder of our department family. 👏🎉

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!