UMSL Department of Biology

05/22/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our Biology Award Recipients! 🧬🌿

We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements, leadership, research, and teaching contributions of our students this year. Swipe through for highlights from the awards celebration and photos of some of this year’s honorees!

🏆 Arnold B. Grobman Award
Graduate (EES): Casey Ernest
Undergraduate (EES): Lucy Roth

🏆 Raju Mehra Award
Graduate (EES): Samir Kuinkel
Graduate (CMB): Ray Kannenberg

🏆 Outstanding TA Award
Becky Hansis O’Neil & George Todd

🏆 Muriel E. Babcock Award
Undergraduate: Zoe Ellis

🏆 Master’s Research Award
Riley Adams

🏆 Tomazi Award
Grace McGowen

🏆 Jenny Higashiguchi Award

John Bender, Alejandra Serna, & Pratikshya Chalise
🏆 Outstanding Graduating Senior
Tim Lopez

🏆 Outstanding Continuing Biology Major
Jess Chern

Please join us in applauding these incredible members of our biology community for their dedication, curiosity, and excellence!

05/14/2026

Meet John Bender — a UMSL Biology PhD student and executive director of Pacific Bird Conservation, whose work is helping protect endangered bird species across the Mariana Islands. His research focuses on restoration ecology, species translocations and long-term conservation strategies that support both ecosystems and local communities.

From fieldwork to global conservation partnerships, his work reflects the impact biology can have far beyond the lab.

Read the full article here: https://www.umsl.edu/umslmagazine/2026/spring-2026/john-bender.html

Although a conservation scientist, John Bender is as focused on people and partnerships as he is on the birds he works to protect. After earning degrees in integrative and conservation biology, the executive director of the Pacific Bird Conservation spent years on field projects across Illinois an...

05/07/2026

We pause to reflect on the life and legacy of botanist Peter Raven, President Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden, whose influence helped shape UMSL’s Biology Department and its enduring commitment to research and conservation. His vision continues to echo through the work of our faculty, students, and alumni.

We invite you to read more about the impact he leaves behind:

Raven, also a former member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, died Saturday at age 89.

05/05/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Jalene LaMontagne on being recognized at UMSL’s 2026 Research and Innovation Celebration! Her work in biology helps us better understand forest ecosystems and how they are changing, showing how research can truly make a difference. Thank you for your contributions to science and innovation.

Learn more about this amazing recognition and event here: https://lnkd.in/gnmjsQ3y

04/29/2026

🌟 We’re proud to highlight Dr. Jalene LaMontagne, E. Desmond Lee Professor in Botanical Studies at UMSL, for her impactful research and leadership in the field.

Her work continues to advance our understanding of forest ecosystems and inspire the next generation of scientists.

Take a moment to check out this short video featuring her work:

🎥

Mast seeding of tree species is critical for forest regeneration and the dynamics of seed production is linked to bird, small mammal and tick population dynamics. In this short video, Dr. Jalene LaMontagne, the E. Desmond Lee Professor in Botanical Studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis wor...

04/28/2026

Want to participate in St. Louis Wasp Watch? The social insect diversity lab at UMSL is tracking where paper wasps chose to build their nests in Missouri and Illinois.

Do you have a paper wasp near your house or apartment? Not sure? Take a look around! Paper wasps will have open nests made out of brownish paper (you can see directly into the nest). Females are just starting to build nests now, so nests will be small - likely only a few cells. You might find them on porches or decks, near sheds, on unused outdoor equipment, or even on plants.

Report your sightings here: https://stlwaspwatch.github.io/

04/06/2026

Today is the final day to purchase tickets for the Robert R. Hermann World Ecology Award Dinner 🌍✨ Don’t miss this inspiring evening celebrating global environmental leadership and impact.

Secure your spot now and be part of an unforgettable night!

🎟️ Get your tickets here: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofMissouriStLouis/events/robert-r-hermann-world-ecology-award-dinner

03/30/2026

🧬 UMSL students made a strong showing at Undergraduate Research Day at the Missouri Capitol!

Ten UMSL students participated in Undergraduate Research Day in Jefferson City, sharing their work with state legislators and highlighting the impact of undergraduate research across the UM System. Read more: https://blogs.umsl.edu/news/2026/03/19/undergraduate-research-day-at-the-capitol-2026/

We’re proud to celebrate these biology students who represented UMSL:

🔬 Zoe Ellis – “Do Male Mating Strategies Predict Behavioral Laterality in the Livebearing Fish Girardinus metallicus?”
🔬 Karch Knipp – “Phenotypic Gradients of Poecilia mexicana Along the Cueva del Azufre Cave System”
🔬 Allison Lendman – “Relationship between physical and behavioral asymmetry in Astyanax mexicanus”
🔬 Kyliah Walker – “The Effect of Diet on Hydrogen Sulfide Tolerance in Extremophile Fishes”

From decoding behavior to studying life in extreme environments, these students are pushing the boundaries of UMSL Biology research.

Way to represent UMSL Biology in Jefferson City—we’re proud of you!

03/11/2026

The Department of Biology recently hosted ecologist Dr. Kirk Winemiller for the annual Margalef Seminar in Ecology! 🧬🌿 Dr. Winemiller, a recently retired University Distinguished Professor from Texas A&M University, shared insights from his influential research in aquatic and community ecology and explored the idea of constructing a “Periodic Table of Niches” to help visualize how species’ functional traits relate to their environments. 🌍🐟

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this inspiring and thought-provoking event!


Read more:

Winemiller recently retired as a University Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M University and has been recognized internationally for his research on fisheries and aquatic ecology.

02/27/2026

Huge congratulations to PhD students Casey Ernest and George Todd for proudly representing at the 3 Minute Thesis Competition! 🎉

Casey earned first place, and George took third place. We’re so proud of your hard work and outstanding presentations! 👏🔬