Biology

Wright honored with Faculty Appreciation Award

Authored on: , Written by: Kristie Reynolds

Dr. Kristopher Wright, professor of biology at UW-Platteville, is being recognized with the 2023 Nimocks Family Faculty Appreciation Award.


Summit focuses on rural health care needs, collaborations

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville hosted the third Tri-State Regional Health Care Summit on April 14, welcoming more than 70 major stakeholders in the region to discuss challenges and needs in rural health care.


UW-Platteville, UW Oshkosh partner to introduce new pathway to nursing degree

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

UW-Platteville and UW Oshkosh signed an agreement to offer a unique 3+1 dual bachelor degree program, providing UW-Platteville students with a pathway to earn a bachelor’s in nursing, while saving time and money. The new program hopes to address the significant shortage of healthcare professionals in Wisconsin and the tri-state region.


Inaugural Healthcare Scholarship event surprises seven students with scholarships

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

The College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture recently hosted its inaugural Healthcare Scholarship event, awarding $1,000 scholarships to seven students who have been admitted for fall 2023.


UW-Platteville student to present research on evening bat

Authored on: , Written by: Kristie Reynolds

One UW-Platteville student spent her summer learning about bats and researching whether the species of bat Nycticeius humeralis, commonly referred to as the evening bat—which has historically stayed south of Wisconsin—may now be found in the Platteville area.


UW-Platteville launches collaborative physician assistant program

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

After several years of planning, UW-Platteville's collaborative Master of Physician Assistant Studies program is officially open to applicants, with the first cohort scheduled to begin in summer 2023. The program will allow UW-Platteville students to earn a degree through UW-Madison’s nationally-recognized Master of Physician Assistant Studies program, while remaining on the UW-Platteville campus to complete the coursework.


Haasl publishes new book on computer simulation and genetics

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

Dr. Ryan Haasl, associate professor of biology, recently published “Nature in Silico: Population Genetic Simulation and its Evolutionary Interpretation Using C++ and R” with Springer Nature, a leading scientific publisher.


UW-Platteville Bee Squad discusses importance of honeybees and native pollinators

Authored on: , Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

The beekeeping season is underway, and the UW-Platteville Bee Squad is ready to observe honeybees and native pollinators across campus.


UW-Platteville receives more than $55,000 from Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin to train next generation of water scientists

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins, UW-Platteville and Heidi Jeter, Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin

UW-Platteville will receive $55,373 in support from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin this year to enhance its water-related academic programs. The funding is part of a statewide initiative to tackle 10 grand water challenges and support curriculum development, undergraduate research opportunities, career development and field training experiences for students interested in studying water-related fields at the 13 UW Schools. 


Levenstein receives Regent Scholar Award

Authored on: , Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

Dr. Mark Levenstein, assistant professor of biology, is the recipient of the Regent Scholar Award for his proposal titled, “Aryl Fluorinated Ethers to Develop the Next Generation of Agrochemicals.” Through the recognition, Levenstein received a $50,000 grant from UW System to pursue his research.


Biology students research mussels, educate on their importance

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

A team of biology students have been researching watersheds in Southwest Wisconsin to study mussels and the environmental factors that may influence them. They will present their findings in March at the annual Research in the Rotunda event.


UW-Platteville hosts Medical Exploration Day

Authored on: , Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

UW-Platteville recently hosted nearly 100 high school students from across the tri-state area for Medical Exploration Day. The event focused on prospective students interested in becoming health care professionals. Students toured Boebel Hall and the Cadaver Lab, along with learning about potential careers. 


Levenstein named WiSys Innovator of the Year

Authored on: , Written by: WiSys

Dr. Mark Levenstein, an active inventor and champion of student research opportunities at UW-Platteville, has been named a 2021 Carl. E Gulbrandsen WiSys Innovator of the Year.


Doyle-Morin recognized for teaching and student engagement with Faculty Appreciation Award

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

Dr. Becky Doyle-Morin, professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being honored with the 2021 Nimocks Family Faculty Appreciation Award.


UW-Platteville, UW-Madison continue preparations for launch of physician assistant partnership

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is several steps closer to the launch of a new partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Physician Assistant Program.


Students intern at local health departments, assist in COVID-19 response

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

A group of students interning at local health departments are not only gaining a valuable experience in the health care field, but also making an impact in local communities’ response against the COVID-19 pandemic.


Collaboration makes goal of healthcare career a reality

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

Biology major Felicia Holmes has had a goal to become a physical therapist since the seventh grade, when she job-shadowed professionals in the field. She enrolled in the Pre-Physical Therapy program at UW-Platteville, and now in her junior year was already accepted into Clarke University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program for fall 2021.


Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Sharon Klavins

Authored on: , Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

After growing up in south Florida and spending summers at her grandparents' North Carolina farm, Dr. Sharon Klavins, professor of biology, was drawn to the natural world. Her passion led her to the field of paleobotany, where her specialty is plant structure and evolution. She began her career teaching high school. Klavins then earned her doctorate degree in plant biology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She started at UW-Platteville in 2005.


UW-Platteville’s Animal House post educational videos for community members

Authored on: , Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

The public is receiving a first-hand virtual look at how UW-Platteville students are taking care of the different animals living in the Biology Department’s Animal House – from a Brazilian short-tailed opossum, to a Caribbean hermit crab. The educational videos and materials are being posted to the Animal House Facebook page in hopes of providing outreach to the public and teaching them more about the animals and why they are important.


Biology students document a rarely seen species in Southwest Wisconsin

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

Students and faculty at UW-Platteville are researching an animal that some Platteville residents might be surprised to learn they have in their own backyard – the southern flying squirrel.


Students hope research brings awareness about emerging disease in snakes

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

For the past several years, UW-Platteville students, led by Dr. John Peterson, associate professor of biology, have been researching an emerging snake fungal disease that threatens to disrupt the balance of ecosystems across the country, including in Wisconsin.


Pioneer Spotlight: Gloria Stuckey

Authored on: , Written by: Ruth Wendlandt

For nearly 30 years, Gloria Stuckey has worked at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Biology Department as the laboratory manager. She assists faculty, staff and students with any questions in the lab, while supervising student employees.


Boebel Hall renovations set to begin

Authored on: , Written by: Paul Erickson

The $23.7 million Boebel Hall renovations are set to begin in the upcoming weeks. The project will renovate existing laboratory and classroom space to become instructional laboratories, preparation and support space, research and undergraduate research space and a general assignment classroom while adding stunning new looks.


Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Mark Levenstein

Authored on: , Written by: Garrison Ledbury

Dr. Mark Levenstein is an assistant professor of molecular biology and biotechnology. He is also the director of the Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology program. These various titles influence Levenstein’s areas of scientific research and enable him to decipher the questions of life that have intrigued him since his childhood.


UW-Platteville and Madison College formalize three agreements

Authored on: , Written by: Bill Bessette, Madison College

In a move that will benefit students from both institutions, Madison College and UW-Platteville signed three partnership agreements today that will provide clear pathways and transfer opportunities in the areas of engineering, biotechnology and veterinary technician.


Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Jeff Huebschman inspires understanding of Southwest Wisconsin’s ecology and biology

Authored on: , Written by: Garrison Ledbury

Dr. Jeff Huebschman joined UW-Platteville in the fall of 2003. A Nebraska native, Huebschman has always enjoyed being out in nature. This love for the outdoors would soon turn into a career as he began to consider his natural surroundings on a deeper level.


Wells examines reptiles, amphibians on campus through summer research program

Authored on: , Written by: Alison Parkins

University of Wisconsin-Platteville senior Jessica Wells is spending her summer in the field pursuing her research interest as a part of UW-Platteville’s Summer Undergraduate Scholars Program.


Students present research on honeybees, native pollinators and their shared habitat

Authored on: , Written by: Kristie Chipera

Four University of Wisconsin-Platteville students are contributing to research that will assess the effects of honeybees and surrounding habitat on native pollinators. They will present their research at the 16th annual Research in the Rotunda event on Wednesday, April 17 in the capitol building in Madison, Wisconsin.


Students team with NASA to test limitations of polymer for cleaning aerospace equipment

Authored on: , Written by: Abbey Pignatari

University of Wisconsin-Platteville student research teams have been experimenting to find the limitations of the First Contact™ adhesive polymer, which is already being used by NASA to clean its astronomical equipment, like telescopes, mirrors and lenses.