Several Elizabethtown College Biological and Environmental students recently presented at the 2022 Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences (PAS) Meeting.

The 97th annual meeting was held March 25-27 at DeSales University.

Senior Biotechnology student Kailey Caroland ‘22 was awarded first place for her presentation titled, “Increased Expression of SAM68 in SV40 Transformed Human Diploid Fibroblast Cells and the Effect on Downstream Splicing Targets.” Caroland was mentored by Professor of Biology Jane Cavender.

Sarah Kleb ‘22, a Biotechnology major, Mathematics and Psychology minor, received the third-place award for her presentation titled, “The effect of Poly(I:C) and IFN-ɑ on the immune system as Observed through IL-12 production in dendritic cells,” She was mentored by Dean of the School of Sciences and Professor of Biology Jodi Lancaster.

“I would like to give a huge thank you to Professor Lancaster,” Kleb said. “She has been a mentor to me since before I even decided to come to Etown. Placing in a conference and having an abstract published as an undergraduate student is a great accomplishment for me and gives me confidence going into my graduate school program.”

Poster Presentations:

  • Characterizing Ferroptosis in the Model Invertebrate Hydra Vulgaris – Jackson Dardis ‘23, Darci Ott ‘23, Victor Witofsky ‘24 and Associate Professor of Biology Diane Bridge
  • Increased Expression of SAM68 in SV40 Transformed Human Diploid Fibroblast Cells and the Effect on Downstream Splicing Targets – Kailey Caroland ‘22, John Hanson ‘22, and Professor of Biology Jane Cavender
  • SV40 T-antigen Sensitization of Human Cells to Erastin and Cisplatin-Induced Death: Apoptosis or Ferroptosis? – John Hanson ‘22, Kimberly Manning ‘23, and Professor of Biology Jane Cavender
  • The Effect of Poly(I:C) and IFN-ɑ on the Immune System as Observed through IL-12 Production in Dendritic Cells – Sarah Kleb ‘22 and Dean of the School of Sciences and Professor of Biology Jodi Lancaster
  • A Survey of Hydra Species in Selected South Central Pennsylvania Lakes, and Differences between Species in Dispersal-Related Behavior – Kayla Morrill ‘22, Riley Moore ‘23, Katie Hollen ‘22, Alexandra Gates ‘23, and Associate Professor of Biology Diane Bridge