Graduate Research in Biological and Environmental Sciences
The Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences offers M.S. degrees in Biomedical Science (BMS) and in Environmental and Biological Sciences (EBS), both in Thesis and Non-thesis tracks. The BMS program is designed to prepare students for future entry into medical and/or professional school in health sciences. The EBS program is designed to broaden perspectives, knowledge, and skillsets for understanding and solving environmental problems and to prepare students for work in government agencies, the private sector, or academia. The Department provides for 7 Graduate Teaching Assistantships per semester, typically to Thesis-track students, which offer a modest stipend and tuition support in exchange for teaching duties. Graduate student research and progress are led by one of 13 terminal degree-holding faculty, whose expertise range from ornithology and marine biology to genetics and cancer treatment.
Students wishing to pursue the Thesis track should contact a graduate faculty member (see Faculty) or one of the Graduate Program Coordinators (EBS – Brian Helms helmsb@troy.edu; BMS – Jacqueline Jones – jdjones@troy.edu ) prior to applying to the Program.
Current On-campus Graduate Students:
Sydney Bernard
Major Professor: Dr. Helms
Thesis subject: Mussels, environmental education and outreach
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Michael Bocchieri
Major Professor: Dr. Helms
Thesis subject: Does the pressence of a generalist predator effect pond dyanmics in
a southeastern pond
Hometown: St. Johns
Gabrielle Chartier
Major Professor: Dr. Helms
Thesis subject: Habitat and mussels survey in the Upper Chipola River
Hometown: Montreal
Adele Crabtree
Major Professor: Dr. Helms
Thesis subject: Crayfish respirometry
Hometown: Camden
Susan Fuller
Major Professor: Dr. Helms
Thesis subject: Salinity intrusion and freshwater mussel behavior
Hometown: Danville, AL
Mary Joy
Major Professor: Dr. Newman
Thesis subject: Assessing population and physical fragmentation of unionid mussels
in the headwaters of the Chipola River.
Hometown: Mobile
Helena Loucas
Major Professor: Dr. Helms
Thesis subject: Macroinvertebrate community structure of the Pea River
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Victoria Martin
Major Professor: Dr. Jones
Thesis subject: Sublethal Temperature Effects on Freshwater Mussels
Hometown: Birmingham
Tyler McNeese
Major Professor: Dr. Boyd
Thesis subject: Analysis of Wetland Soil
Hometown: Trion
Colin Nunn
Major Professor: Dr. Helms
Thesis subject: Effects of dams and invasive crayfish on invertebrates
Hometown: Wetumpka, AL
Fisher Parrish
Major Professor: Dr. Diamond
Thesis subject: Assessment and Augmentation of the Gulf Coast Sweet Pitcher Plant
Sarracenia rubra ssp. gulfensis
Hometown: Dothan Al
Ja'Dazia Posey
Major Professor: Dr. Jones
Thesis subject: The Interplay of FOXI3 and GAS6 in Promoting Prostate Cancer Bone
Metastasis Through Dormancy.
Hometown: Greenville
Samantha Ruwuya
Major Professor: Dr. Jones
Thesis subject: Late stage prostate cancer focusing on the bone microenvironment
Hometown: Harare, Zimbabwe
Kathryn Schabron
Major Professor: Dr. Guillaumet
Thesis subject: Avian communities of southern Alabama blackwater wetlands
Hometown: Anchorage, AK
Barrie Sullivan
Major Professor: Dr. Helms
Thesis subject: Macroinvertebrate communities in blackwater wetlands of Alabama
Hometown: Montgomery
Julian Vilardi
Major Professor: Dr. Landers
Thesis subject: Kinorhynch Community Assemblages of Mississippi Sound
Hometown: Wetumpka
Terrence Watts
Major Professor: Dr. Jones
Non-thesis
Hometown: Spanish Fort, AL
Graduate Alumni List
Holly Clifton (2022), Polyenvironmental Corporation, Dothan, AL, U.S.A.
Miruna Giurgiu (2022), PhD program, Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research,
Madrid, Spain.
Hannah Merren (2022), PhD program, the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences,
Auburn University, AL, U.S.A.
Student Research Travel Grants
The Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Troy University encourages students who are biology and environmental science majors to conduct undergraduate and graduate research with faculty members in the department. The primary goal of the grants is to support student travel to give presentations resulting from their research at professional conferences.
ELIGIBILITY:
Students pursuing B.S. or M.S. degrees in biology or environmental science at Troy University and who have conducted research resulting in abstracts accepted/published in official proceedings of scientific conferences are eligible to apply for a grant. Applicants must be officially registered as students at Troy University, and proposals must be submitted prior to professional conference dates.
PROPOSAL GUIDELINES:
A. Cover sheet
The cover sheet should include the following: names, addresses, email addresses,
and phone numbers of the student investigator(s) and their faculty advisors.
B. An official copy of the accepted/published abstract resulting from research conducted while pursuing a B. S. or M.S. degree at Troy University and a copy of the oral/poster presentation will be submitted.
C. Anticipated benefits to the student(s), faculty advisor(s), and Troy University by attending and presenting at the professional conference of interest will be summarized.
D. An itemized budget will be submitted.
A detailed budget must be provided. Budget items may include the following: conference registration, mileage or air fare, lodging, meals, printing costs, and oral presentation preparation (not for purchase of computer hardware or software). Proof of these costs (official receipts) will be submitted to the department after the conference is attended and the presentation has been made. Funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis.
Proposals are reviewed by a Troy University Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences evaluation committee. Proposals are submitted to Dr. Wayne Morris, Professor of Biology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, MSCX 210F, Troy University, Troy, AL 36082.
GRANT AMOUNTS:
Funding requests in amounts up to $750 per conference are allowed. If multiple students are giving the same presentation, transportation and lodging will need to be shared and monetary requests reflecting this accordingly.
RESPONSIBILITY OF GRANTEE:
Recipients of grants must acknowledge the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences in any scientific articles as well as in any professional presentations resulting from the work supported.