CBS Admissions Blog

CBS students go international

2010-05-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

This summer Christine Oldenkamp (pictured above), a junior in CBS majoring in biology with a Spanish minor, is embarking on a whirlwind, globetrotting adventure to South Korea and Spain. Read her blog as she tries to speak Korean, learns more Spanish, and has an amazing adventure along the way!

http://www.becominginternational.blogspot.com/

Helping patients understand the ACTGs of genetic testing

2010-05-14T07:05:00.000-07:00

CBS graduate Amy Swanson combines her background in genetics with a passion for helping people!

Scientists finished sequencing the human genome in 2003, the same year that Amy Swanson,who completed her graduate degree in the Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics with an emphasis on genetic counseling at the University of Minnesota, began working as a genetic counselor. The trove of data that resulted from the Human Genome Project offers nearly limitless potential to develop genetic tests. Swanson is at the vanguard of what is likely to be a boom in demand for healthcare workers trained to interpret the results and guide patients through the emotional and ethical gauntlet that sometimes follows.

As an undergraduate, Swanson had considered medical school like many of her College of Biological Sciences peers, but decided that committing to so many years of training was not right for her. So she went back to the drawing board. Swanson knew she loved genetics. “It’s science and it’s logical and it makes sense and it’s fascinating,” she says. But after spending time in a research lab as an undergraduate she also knew she wanted to work with people. Genetic counseling offered the best of both worlds. Swanson says, “I get a lot more patient contact than any physician I know. I end up feeling that I am useful to my patients because I can really get to know them.”

Genetic counselors can specialize in a variety of areas from pediatrics to cancer. Swanson counsels patients with high-risk pregnancies at a clinic associated with the University of California, San Francisco. She moved to the Bay Area two years ago after several years at Foedert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee where she set up a genetic counseling program. In her role as a genetic counselor, Swanson looks at a variety of factors from the age of the mother to family history for genetic red flags. “I am fascinated by pregnancy. … It’s amazing to me. I loved learning about reproduction in school—embryology and developmental biology—and then taking it a step further and looking at the ways it doesn’t work out.”

If you are interested in becoming a Genetic Counselor, check out more information about our program at the U of M Graduate Program of Study in Genetic Counseling!

Matters of the Heart

2010-05-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

College of Biological Sciences Biochemistry undergraduate Xiaoying Lou was one of only two students at the University to receive a 2010 Goldwater Scholarship, widely considered the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the United Stated for students studying the sciences. Read along as Xiaoying Lou talks about her past, present, and future...

On being named a Goldwater Scholar:

It was pretty exciting. It’s a national award, so it was unexpected. Winning the Goldwater affirms my desire to pursue an MD/PhD to become a physician-scientist.

On her interest in heart research:
Before freshman year, I had the opportunity to mentor at the VA Medical Center with Dr. Rosemary Kelly. I got to see a real heart and feel it beating in my hand. I was mesmerized, and I’ve wanted to work with the heart ever since. My current research in Dr. Lincoln Potter’s lab deals indirectly with the heart at the basic science, biochemical level. The project for which I received the Goldwater deals with how molecular inhibitors regulate hormone receptors that control blood pressure. Additionally, my clinical research work in Dr. Donald Dengel’s lab deals with mechanisms of vascular function in heart failure and LVAD patients.

On her future plans:
The heart I observed in the OR wasn’t at all what I expected. It was surrounded by fat. It was weak and beat at an irregular pace. Despite recent advancements in heart surgery, it remains risky, and patient recovery is still a long and difficult process. I realized then that I wanted to do more than directly treat the effects of heart disease. I want to be actively involved in preventing these effects and innovating future therapies and drugs that can be applied clinically. That’s why I want to get an MD/PhD. I aspire to become an academic cardiothoracic surgeon and conduct research at the university level, so I can take a multi-pronged approach in the prevention and treatment of heart disease.

CBS Students running for those who can't

2010-05-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

5K Run for Research is an annual event that raises money for research at the U of M. This year's event, on Saturday, April 10th, raised money for the National Mutiple Sclerosis Society. Every year the CBS Student Board organzies and hosts the fundraiser.

"Thanks to all of the runners and volunteers for making the 5k run for research such a great event. We had 193 people participate and raised $3,100.74 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society!" - CBS Student Board

Check out more events and activities that you could participate in as a student at the CBS Student Board website.

CBS People: Eileen Furlong

2010-03-25T14:01:00.000-07:00

Job title: Senior Lab Services Coordinator
Number of years with the college: 10
Where you work: Biology Program, St. Paul Labs

Describe something interesting or unusual about your work here:
I work with the animal behavior teaching lab and get to work with a lot of fish, insects, and other arthropods. I came back after winter break to find one of the wolf spiders had had babies while I was gone. She was carrying a teaming mass of little spiderlings on her back!

What’s the oddest thing someone has left behind in a lab?
Someone once lost a small diamond from an earring. She contacted me and gave a very good description of where she had been working when she thought she may have lost it. I went to look and it was right where she had thought it would be. She was very happy about that.

How do you get to work?
If there is no snow and ice I ride my bike. When the roads are too treacherous I grab a ride with my husband to the East Bank and catch the first Campus Connector bus to St. Paul.

MN students prepare for spring break at the Rec

2010-03-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

University of Minnesota students are getting in shape at the University Recreation (Rec) Center just in time for Spring Break. From the Olympic size pool to the Bod Pod, there is a lot to do to get your fitness on at the Rec! Plus, a planned expansion of the Rec Center will make plenty more room for free weights, treadmills, and more gym equipment.

The University Rec Center opened its doors in 1993. Located on the University of Minnesota’s East Bank Campus, the facility serves between 3,000 and 5,000 patrons on an average weekday during the academic year.

The University Recreation Center houses the following:

2 fitness centers with state-of-the-art cardio and weight equipment
12 handball and racquetball courts
5 international size squash courts
2 gymnasiums
Kitchenette (available for rent)
Steam rooms/saunas
Men/women/family locker rooms
Pro Shop and Equipment Room
UCard Office
Courtside Café
Lounges

To learn more about what the Rec Center and its programs, visit the Rec Center Web site.

Study Abroad: Biology of The Galápagos

2010-03-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

Listen to CBS students and faculty share their experiences studying biology in the Galápagos Islands!

Discover yourself through studying abroad in the Galápagos Islands, where you will . . .

-Be immersed in a biological paradise and see ancient turtles, finches, marine iguanas, giant land iguanas, sea lions, magnificent frigatebirds, penguins, blue-footed, red-footed, and masked boobies!

-Visit Dragon Hill and Venice at Santa Cruz, and hike to a hypersalinic lagoon behind the beach, occasionally visited by pink flamingos.

-Ride around the islet along the coast of Santa Cruz, where you will have a chance to see marine animals like spotted eagle rays and golden rays, mullets, white tipped reef sharks and Pacific green sea turtles

-Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station.

-Visit the Devil’s Crown, a sunken crater where red-billed tropicbirds and blue-footed boobies breed.

-Hike along the white sand beach filled with sea lions, mockingbirds, and brown pelicans.

-Visit Punta Suarez, famous for its varied colonies of sea birds including large colonies of blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, waved albatrosses, and swallow tailed gulls.

-Enjoy an excursion to Santa Fe Island, which has one of the best locations for swimming with sea lions and is also a great place to catch a glimpse of the Galápagos white-tipped shark and sea turtles.

Did you know that the University of Minnesota has the largest study abroad programs in the nation? Check out more study abroad programs offered by the College of Biological Sciences.

Study Abroad: Tropical Reef Ecology

2010-03-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

Listen to what College of Biological Sciences students and faculty say about their experiences studying tropical reef ecology off Roatan in Honduras!

Discover yourself through studying abroad in Honduras, where you will . . .

-Earn three course credits in December and January while spending a week diving in one of the most magnificent coral reef communities in the world!

-Conduct an independent-research project in an intact coral reef.

-Learn about the evolution and ecology of coral inhabitants.

-Enjoy a night dive, dolphin dive, and two boat dives daily.

-Study oceanography, zoology, evolution, and animal behavior in authentic settings.

-Take a side trip to the spectacular Mayan ruins of Copan on the mainland of Honduras.

Did you know that the University of Minnesota has the largest study abroad programs in the nation? Check out more study abroad programs offered by the College of Biological Sciences.

Meet the Scientist: Helene Muller Landau

2010-02-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

What determines the variety of trees in a tropical forest? Is it the seed size? Perhaps seed-hungry animals? And what happens to forests that are being drastically changed by humans? Smithsonian Tropical Research Center Botanist, Helene Muller Landau, talks about her attempt to find answers to these questions.

Faculty in the College of Biological Sciences conduct a broad range of research, from molecules to ecosystems, and make discoveries that improve human health, restore the environment, provide new sources of renewable energy and enhance agriculture.

CBS faculty are also committed to training the next generation of scientists. They welcome students into their research labs and guide them through independent research projects. Their enthusiasm for hands-on education is one of the reasons CBS attracts such highly qualified students. Click here to check out the curent research that is being done in CBS!

CBS Spotlight: The Truth About Lions

2010-02-11T11:32:00.000-08:00

Craig Packer, a CBS professor and leading expert on lions, is featured in the January issue of Smithsonian magazine in an article called “The Truth About Lions."

One of Packer’s more sensational experiments took aim at a long-standing mystery. A male lion is the only cat with a mane, and some scientists believed its function was to protect an animal’s neck during fights. But because lions are the only social felines, Packer thought manes were more likely a message or a status symbol. He asked a Dutch toy company to craft four plush, lifesize lions with light and dark manes of different lengths. He named them Lothario, Fabio, Romeo and Julio (as in Juilo Iglesias—this was the late 1990s!).

Professor Packer attracted lions to the dolls using calls of scavenging hyenas. When they encountered the dummies, female lions almost invariably attempted to seduce the dark-maned ones, while males avoided them, preferring to attack the blonds, particularly those with shorter manes.

Packer has been running the Serengeti Lion Project for 31 or its 43 years. It is the most extensive carnivore study ever conducted. You can learn more about Professor Packer and his fascinating work in the Smithsonian article.

Interested in animals and zoology?

2010-02-03T06:51:00.000-08:00

Check out Biology 2012: General Zoology, and listen to lecturers Frank Barnwell and Keith Barker describe what the University of Minnesota can offer you! After all, this is just one of the many exciting and challenging courses offered through the College of Biological Sciences.

CBS Student Highlight: Kristin Roensch

2010-01-22T11:58:00.000-08:00

What is your major?

Currently, I am a senior pursuing a major in Genetics, Cell Biology and Development and a minor in Spanish Studies.

Why was CBS a great fit for you?

I chose the College of Biological Sciences because of its dedication to and focus on the students. As a student in CBS, I have never felt like a number; everyone involved in CBS really goes above and beyond to make sure that the students are well taken care of and that all of their needs are met. It is so easy to get involved in CBS through its many student groups, organizations, and leadership opportunities. Overall, I am so happy with my decision to come to CBS--I have learned so much, both in and out of the classroom.

Ultimate Homecoming Parade

2010-01-15T12:30:00.000-08:00

Now for a little flashback...

As you may know, this past fall marked the return of football to campus with the opening of the TCF Bank Stadium. It was dubbed 'The Ultimate Homecoming.' Of course, any homecoming isn't complete without a parade, so on Friday, October 9, students, staff, faculty, alumni, and the University community joined together for a night to remember...

To show our school spirit during the parade, approximately 70 students, faculty, staff, and alumni represented the Nature of Life program and all seven departments within CBS. The students created caricatures to represent each of the departments. Dean Robert Elde and CBS founding dean Richard Caldecott rode in a convertible along with Biological Sciences Alumni Society Board of Directors President John S. Anderson. View our full-screen slideshow and see how it all went down!

BIO magazine is now online!

2010-01-15T12:25:00.000-08:00

Many of us are spending more time online and less time paging through magazines. Afterall, you can't watch that exciting video about CBS students making a difference in the world if you're not using a computer. In that spirit, BIO (the College of Biological Science's magazine) has decided to go online to publish without the pulp and produce more timely, media-rich features!

Check out BIO magazine on the CBS Web site.

CBS People: Erin Fider

2009-12-23T10:36:00.000-08:00

Name: Erin Fider

Job title: Program Associate

Number of years with the college: 3.5 (also worked for the Department of Pharmacology for 8 years prior)

Where you work: Itasca Biology Program

Describe something interesting or unusual about your work here:
I work in St. Paul during the academic year and spend three months each summer at Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories. The contrast between the city and the woods, as well as the two distinct working environments, lets me lead a double life. At Itasca, I get to interact on a more personal level with people I meet only in passing here on campus. Living there is unpredictable. On any given day you might run across a bear, get caught in a storm or watch a helicopter land on the soccer field. The best part is working with the great Itasca staff that I only get to see during the summer months. As many will attest, their combined sense of humor cannot be rivaled!

Where’s your favorite spot to hang out when you are at Itasca?
I walk to a huge boulder out on Bear Paw point nearly every day. It's the perfect place to watch the sunset, have a picnic or just sit. I've taken to calling it "my rock" even though the plaque bolted onto it is in memory of Samuel Green, the pioneer forester and professor who first established summer courses in forestry at Itasca. I guess he must have enjoyed the solitude there as well, but he doesn't seem to mind sharing it.

What do you listen to in the car when you drive from St. Paul to Itasca?
Anything and everything! The Essential Adam Ant CD was my top pick this summer. It's impossible to get drowsy while listening to Ant music and it brings back some fun memories.

CBS students making a difference in the world

2009-12-22T09:13:00.000-08:00

College of Biological Sciences undergraduates volunteered with Minnesota Medical Leaders this summer in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Michelle Holman, one of the volunteers on the medical mission, describes her experience...

CBS People: Tracy Anderson

2009-12-18T08:07:00.000-08:00

Name: Tracy Anderson

Job title: Microscopist / Imaging Specialist (Junior Scientist)

Number of years with the college: 5.5 years (Also, graduated from CBS with a microbiology degree and worked as an undergrad for CBS information technology and also as a teaching assistant for the Biology program.)

Where you work: CBS Imaging Center

Describe something interesting or unusual about your work here.
Working in a University core facility, which serves the entire U of M community, I get to look at a plethora of interesting things under the microscope. The list includes bacteria that can sense magnetic poles, odor absorbing upholstery, orange flavoring used in foods, tool artifacts from the Stone Age, cheese, butter, a piece of an iron-clad ship from the Civil War, extinct insects, owl retina, islet cells, shrimp food, skin exfoliant cream, heart stents, pacemakers, plant roots, basil, artificial tissue, Brazilian moths, astronaut food, lichens collected from around the world … the list goes on. I feel privileged to look at the world with such a unique perspective.

How do you usually get to work?
During the warmer months I drive my MINI Cooper to work, although I really miss riding a scooter. During the winter months I take the bus, which conveniently drops me off next to Snyder Hall in St. Paul where I work.

What other professional pursuit could you imagine for yourself?
Food stylist/photographer and restaurant critic. And pastry chef. In New York City.

A strong foundation

2009-12-14T08:45:00.000-08:00

Looking for an innovative, fun, and challenging introduction to biology? Check out the Foundations of Biology, a required course for all first-year College of Biological Sciences students!

Foundations of Biology is taught in an interactive, state-of-the-art classroom. It provides students with individualized atttention from top faculty and hands-on experience, focusing on applying knowledge to real life issues.

CBS Spotlight: Lake Itasca Biological Station

2009-12-08T07:44:00.000-08:00

Located near the headwaters of the Mississippi River, Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories is a pristine living laboratory of lakes, bogs, springs, and forests with biodiversity that puts it as close to a tropical rain forest as we get in Minnesota.

Today, students go to Itasca to get their feet wet as tomorrow’s researchers. Moreover, research now underway at the field station such as the Minnesota Mississippi Metagenome Project reflects advances in ecology driven by molecular biology, genomics, remote sensing and computational biology.

If you want to know more about what the U of M and Lake Itasca Biological Station have to offer, click here.

CBS People: Sarah Corrigan

2009-12-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

Job title: Assistant Director, Honors in CBS

Number of years with the college: 9

Where you work: CBS Student Services and the University Honors Program

Describe something interesting or unusual about your work here:
I try to learn all my students’ names, and I’ve learned over the years that it's easier to do if you memorize both first and last name. Sometime my brain works like a search engine - input the last name, and the first name comes up a second or two later.

What’s your favorite biology topic?
My interests in biology include issues in conservation and behavior in birds. I can watch hummingbird videos on YouTube for quite a while without getting bored. The one class I wish I’d taken as a student is entomology. The only insects I can identify are the larvae eaten by bluegill sunfish.

Where’s your favorite place on campus to hang out?
I love the horticulture garden on St. Paul campus. Gardening is one of my favorite obsessions!

Stay tuned for more profiles of CBS people in the coming months!

CBS on Twitter!

2009-12-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

Twitter lets you keep in touch with what is happening in CBS through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What's happening? Check out the CBS twitter page and get your tweet on!

CBS students going the extra mile

2009-11-23T10:21:00.001-08:00

Students at the U of M are constantly challanging themselves to create a better future for others.

CBS student Mike Torchia covered 400 miles in seven days this summer in an effort to raise funds to endow college scholarships for Peruvian orphans. He explains why he felt compelled to “do more” after spending winter break volunteering in the orphanage in this video:

You can also become involved in student organizations like Biology Without Borders, a group that volunteers in areas like Tanzania, Kenya, and Boliva. Click here to check out more student organization opportunities!

U2 coming to TCF Bank Stadium this summer

2009-11-17T09:20:00.000-08:00

The U of M campus is home all kinds of shows and events throughout the year, providing entertainment and enrichment opportunities for students and the community. The University regularly hosts famous authors, politicians, business leaders, and scholars, as well as world-renowned musicians, dancers, and artists, and more. Many events are free or offer discounts to U of M students. This summer, U2 will play at TCF Bank Stadium--the first concert to be held in the stadium since its official opening this past August.

If you want to see U2 perform in TCF Bank Stadium on July 27 as part of its "360" tour, tickets start at $30 and go on sale November 21, 2009. It's sure to be an amazing event! Learn more here.

Want to get a taste of what's happening around campus? Check out the "On Campus" section of the University's Web site.

CBS in the news: Converting bacterial to biofuel

2009-11-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

At the U of M, many different opportunities arise every day to get involved and make an impact in your community!

The Department of Energy gave a $2.2 million dollar grant to for a research proposal using bacteria to produce biofuel. Lead investigator Larry Wackett, University Distinguished McKnight Professor in CBS, is working with faculty from CBS and the Institute of Technology to develope a co-culture of bacteria that converts carbon dioxide into gasoline and diesel.

The University's bacterial-to-biofuel project was one of three featured in Monday's New York Times.

Click here to read more about the project on the CBS Web site.

Want to live on campus? Apply now!

2009-11-03T07:09:00.001-08:00

Over 80 percent of U of M first-year students live on campus. Why? The reasons are endless...living on campus helps you to make new friends, get involved in the U of M community, and provides a supportive (and fun) environment to help you adjust to college life. Plus, it's convenient! You'll be close to your classes, libraries, the student union, the rec center, and much more.

If you are a senior this year and have applied for admission the University of Minnesota, you can apply for housing online now. (You do not have to wait for an admissions decision to apply.) Housing assignments are based on the date you submit your housing application, so the sooner you apply, the better!

Want to get an inside look at our residence halls? Click here for online video tours and more information.

I would also recommend checking out this helpful FAQ about the housing application process.

CBS in the news: Researchers develop new test for melamine

2009-11-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

What does it mean to be a student at a top public research university? As a U of M student, you will part of a community making life-changing discoveries that protect and enhance the health of people around the world.

CBS graduate students made headlines when an an enzyme they discovered was used to develop a test that simplifies the detection of melamine contamination in food. Melamine is an industrial chemical that killed six Chinese children and hospitalized 150,000 last year after it was added to milk to increase its apparent protein content. Testing kits to detect melamine used to cost $550. Using the enzyme discovered at the University, a cheaper, portable test was developed. The new test takes just minutes and costs only $13!

Click here to see a KARE-11 news video about this fascinating discovery, or learn more about University's BioTechnology Institute where the enzyme was developed.

Interested in learning more about how you can get involved in research on campus? Check out the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

What do you want to research? Leave me a comment and tell me about it!

What can you do with a CBS major?

2009-11-02T07:11:00.000-08:00

One growing field is in genetic counseling!

Genetic counselors work with individuals who have an increased risk for a genetic condition or those at risk for having a child with a birth defect or genetic condition. They provide information and supportive counseling, coordinate testing, and connect families with community resources such as support groups and funding agencies.

Click here to learn more about Graduate Studies in Genetic Counseling at the U of M.

Do you YouTube?

2009-10-30T14:12:00.000-07:00

Do you enjoy surfing YouTube until you find that exciting video that you can show all your friends?

Look no further! See what is currently happening in the College of Biological Sciences on its YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/umncbs

Meeting classmates before classes . . .

2009-10-23T15:30:00.000-07:00

Nature of Life is a program that all College of Biological Sciences (CBS) students participate in the summer before their freshman year! Students meet classmates and professors during their stay at Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, which is in northern Minnesota.

Check out this short video about Nature of Life!

Find your major!

2009-10-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in the biological sciences but are not sure which major is for you?

Check out the seven different majors offered at the College of Biological Sciences:

Biochemistry
Biology
Ecology, Evolution & Behavior
Genetics, Cell Biology & Development
Microbiology
Neuroscience
Plant Biology

A little about me...

2009-10-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

Hi! My name is Adam Manteuffel and I am the College of Biological Sciences (CBS) freshman admissions counselor at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. In this blog I am going to tell you about exciting opportunities, important events/dates, and about my own experiences as a former student here in CBS!

Before I tell you more about CBS, I am going to share some fun facts about myself! First of all, I graduated from CBS in May 2009 with a degree in Biology and an emphasis in health sciences.

Most memorable U of M experience: Going to Golden Gopher football games with all of my friends!

Most interesting course: Immunology, because the professor was exceptional and he applied class topics to current events like H1N1 influenza.

Favorite campus restaurant: Jamba Juice! Because nothing goes better on a hot day than a nice cold smoothie.

Favorite hobby: Fishing and hunting. I love to relax and be outside with nature even if it is below zero during deer season or ice fishing on one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.

Favorite trip: I went on a vacation for two weeks where I ziplined through the jungles of Guatemala, snorkeled off the coast of Belize, and enjoyed the beaches of Cancun, Mexico!

Favorite sports teams: I was born and raised in Wisconsin so I am a Packer fan through thick and thin, but I will cheer for the Golden Gophers over any other team! (And go Brewers!)

'Till next time...