Kasey Clear inspires some future chemists!

On Wednesday, organic chemistry professor Kasey Clear led activities for a group of elementary students to engage them in chemistry.  This was conducted at the Center for Civic Innovation, right across from our Center for Civil Heritage in downtown South Bend. Clear used dry ice to increase the carbon dioxide content in water, thus acidifying it, which the children could observe from the color change of a pH indicator - after having used the indicator themselves to test the pH of common items in the home. For more information on the Center for Civic Innovation please click on the link below. The two pictures shown above were taken from the Center's Facebook page which is also listed below.

Center for Civic Innovation (main web site)

Facebook page: Educational Programs at the ND Center for Civic Innovation (Facebook page)

Crocheted protein structures

Ilona Lehman, a pre-nursing major in Dr. Marmorino's second-semester chemistry course (C102), was inspired by the beautiful images of proteins in the textbook and class to crochet examples of the four levels of protein structure.  Thank you so much for these lovely and creative illustrations!

Top image: Primary structure is the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain. Each blue knot represents an amino acid linked to the next by a peptide bond.  

Middle image: Secondary structure is the local folding of the polypeptide chain into regular structures such as the alpha helix illustrated by the twirling dark pink yarn and the beta-pleated sheet illustrated by the zig-zagging light pink yarn. In both cases, hydrogen bonding (in white) stabilizes these local structures.

Bottom left image: Tertiary structure is the overall three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain shown here with dark pink alpha helices, dark blue sheets, and cyan random coils.

Bottom right image: Quaternary structure describes how multiple polypeptides interact to form a single protein. The example shown here is hemoglobin with four subunits (folded chains) each given a different color. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in our red blood cells from the lungs to the tissues - one oxygen molecule for each subunit.

Science outreach at the Kennedy Academy

On Wednesday evening, the Biology-Chemistry Club hosted a booth at the Kennedy Academy for their Family STEAM night to showcase science, engineering, and arts at a level that kids can appreciate. The Kennedy Academy teaches elementary and middle school aged children about midway between downtown South Bend and the airport. Club members Zahra Aljuboori, Morgan Blank, Guillermo Cardenas, Carlos Lopez Chavez, Zulema Lopez, and Jennifer Ngoumape all helped Professor Shahir Rizk demonstrate the excitement of biology and chemistry. While the youngest students at the academy might not be able to distinguish a professor from an undergraduate student, the older students can certainly tell the difference and interacting with someone who could be an older sister or brother is much more impactful than another parent or teacher figure. So thanks very much to all of the students who volunteered their time to this event.  

Students present their summer research in Chicago

Professors Muna (Chemistry) and Nair (Biology and Informatics) accompanied our students to the annual Louis Stokes Midwest Regional Center of Excellence (LSMRCE) research conference. These same students had previously presented their summer 2023 research to fellow students and faculty on our campus, but this weekend they presented to a much broader audience in Chicago. From left to right in the photo above we have Erik Vardanian (Computer Science BS), Nathanael Smith (Biochemistry BS), Hannah Gregor (Biochemistry BS), Ashley Rojas Romero (Biological Sciences BS), Allyce Rogers (Biological Sciences BS), Professor Nair, Zahra Aljuboori (Biochemistry BS), Professor Muna, and Abigael Ngoumape (Biochemistry BS). It looks like they had a great time at this three-day even from November 3rd to 5th. Thanks to all the students for representing IU South Bend at the conference - and thanks also to Professors Muna and Nair for their support.

Talk on Protein Engineering

This week, professor Shahir Rizk gave a talk on protein engineering as a part of a seminar series hosted by the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the IU School of Medicine. While you are probably aware of Rizk's many research endeavors involving our undergraduate students in the two areas of protein engineering listed above, you may not be aware that Rizk also teaches as an adjunct instructor for the IU School of Medicine. When he sometimes can take a break from teaching and researching, you may find him at a number of special events at the local LangLab (which is a mixture of cafe, art, science, and entertainment) or holed away finishing a general-audience book on the marvels of proteins. 

Students Present Summer Research

While classes may be few in the summer, that is the time when research is most abundant. To round out September, some of our STEM students presented posters detailing their summer research projects. Most students are financially supported by LSAMP grants, SMART grants, or the Garber Summer Research Fellowship. Some of our students will go on to present their work in Chicago in early November at the annual LSAMP conference. The students and their projects are listed below, corresponding to the pictures from left to right, top to bottom.

Hannah Gregor, Biochemistry BS (with Dr. Clear)
Investigation of Fluorescent Hydrogen Sulfide Probes and the Synthesis of Enzyme Inhibitors and Protective Molecules

Ashley Rojas Romero, Biological Sciences BS (with Dr. Qian)
Acid Tolerance and Resistance to Oxidative Stress in Oral Bifidobasterium and Streptococcus Species

Nathanael Smith, Biochemistry BS (with Dr. Rizk)
Cloning and Expression of the Arylphorin Subunit Alpha-like Protein in E. Coli

Allyce Rogers and Gabby Gabrielson, Biological Sciences BS (with Dr. Marr and Dr. Schnabel)
Comparing Vegetative Characteristics and Pollinator Diversity in Restored and Natural Populations of Phemeranthus Rugospermus (an Endangered Plant Species)

Erik Vardanian, Computer Science BS (with Dr. Nair)
Genome Structure Database: A Web Resource for Genome Structural Data Using a Nearest Neighbor Model

Abigael Ngoumape, Biochemistry BS (with Dr. Clear)
Synthesis and Electrochemical Analysis of 1,4-Naphthoquinone Derivatives and the Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Electrochemical Properties

Certification by the American Chemical Society is Renewed

The American Chemical Society (ACS) certifies chemistry degrees for colleges and universities across the country. Our Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has had its B.S. Chemistry degree certified for around three decades. This fall our certification was approved for another 6 years which is the standard time between "check-ups" to ensure a healthy department. Thanks to all of the faculty and staff of our department for their hard work to meet the standards of the ACS. Thanks also to the supporting departments which offer the mathematics, physics, and biology courses that complement the chemistry and biochemistry courses taught by ours. And congratulations to all the past, and future, B.S. Chemistry graduates who can say that their degree is ACS certified.

3D Printer in the Rizk Lab

This summer the Rizk lab acquired a new 3D printer thanks to support from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. The SnapMaker Artisan 2 3D printer will help with many aspects of research and outreach done by Dr. Rizk and the students in the Rizk lab. The machine is used to print protein structures to provide physical models to show how they fit together in multi-subunit configurations. This will be a great outreach tool for demonstrations on how proteins work. The machine is also used to model "new" protein structures engineered in the Rizk lab as a way to investigate how the structures give rise to new functions. 

Students in the Rizk lab are also learning new skills of 3D modeling and using their skills to print parts for machines and instruments used around the lab. The Rizk lab is building collaborations with other departments at IU South Bend and the University of Notre Dame to design and manufacture specialized parts for research in physics, biology, and bacteriology. With a wide print plate, the machine can print large objects, or many small objects in parallel. But the machine is more than just a 3D printer. With interchangeable heads, it can be easily converted to a laser cutter/engraver or a CNC (computer numerical control) machine for precision carving. With the versatility of the instrument, we hope that it will be a valuable resource within the department as well as for other departments and universities in the region through active collaborations. 

The 3D printer is shown in the process of printing a standard known as 3D benchy, which is a boat with very specific dimensions used universally to calibrate 3D printer settings. 

Rizk contributes chapter to RCSA book

Professor Shahir Rizk is a contributor to a new book published by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. This book is a collection of short chapters written by Cottrell Scholars (like Rizk) and summaries of mini-workshops. Rizk contributed chapter 4 titled From Lectures to Conversations: Increasing the Sense of Belonging in STEM Courses Through Active Learning Interventions based on his efforts and experiences in both his smaller upper-level courses and his larger lower-level courses. This book is available as a free PDF download HERE.

Dr. Muna is promoted to Full Professor

Dr. Grace Muna, our analytical chemist, has had a remarkable year - and it is only half over. She got a break from teaching in the spring, which we call a sabbatical, to dedicate time to her research which was performed at Dr. Matthew Champion's biochemistry lab at the University of Notre Dame. The fruits of this labor are already ripening as the skills she gained there are being passed on to her summer research students here on our campus. During this time she also received her dues for past research efforts with two articles published in peer-reviewed journals (see #1 and #2). However, the most exciting event this year for Muna is that she was promoted to [Full] Professor, which is the final academic rank (after the entry level Assistant Professor and intermediate Associate Professor ranks). Congratulations, Dr. Muna, for all the achievements you have received this year! You can learn more about Muna in the article below from our campus newspaper, The Preface.

Dr. Grace Muna on her research and her chemistry journey – The Official Student Newspaper of Indiana University South Bend (iusbpreface.net)

Professor Feighery returns with award

Professor Bill Feighery, our inorganic chemist, has at last returned to the department full-time. He has been serving part-time in administration as assistant dean since 2017 which, unfortunately, for us, limited his involvement in department affairs. However, the administrative need was great and Feighery served the College of Liberal Arts and Science extremely well to earn him one of the campus's Top 25 Titan awards for demonstrating consistent stellar performance and going above and beyond normal responsibilities. We are super excited to have him back with us, but also sad to see his expertise leave the Dean's Office. Fortunately, the scientific mind will still be present there with previous Organic Chemist, Professor Doug McMillen, serving as Interim Dean and Physics Professor Henry Scott taking Feighery's place as assistant dean. You've got to love scientists!

Administrative assistant honored for 10 years of service

Congratulations to Jennie Downs on a decade of service to both the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Department of Biological Sciences. Downs often works behind the scenes handling the mysterious mountains of paperwork that allow the departments to function and she also deals with many student registration issues. She is often the first contact for potential students who seek information about our departments. Downs was among the many dedicated staff honored for service last Friday on Staff Appreciation Day. Thanks, Jennie, for all that you do!

Photo taken from https://facstaff.iusb.edu/staff-council/index.html.

LSAMP scholars begin summer research

With spring classes over, it is time for summer research to begin. Among the many students engaged in research are the group of five LSAMP scholars pictured above with their research mentors: (left to right) Dr. Andy Schnabel, Dr. Shahir Rizk, Allyce Rogers, Ashley Rojas, Abigael Ngoumape, Dr. Yilei Qian, Dr. Grace Muna, Joel Rael, Nathanael Smith, Dr. Murli Nair, Dr. Kasey Clear. Some of the student-mentor pairing may seem awkward, but a lot of the research is interdisciplinary and the students have a wide range of interests. For example, biochemistry major Ngoumape will work with organic chemist Clear; biology major Smith will research with biochemist Rizk; and biochemistry-mathematics double major Rael will pair with biologist-informaticist Nair. Each student and their mentor will receive a stiped provided by the LSAMP grant ultimately from the National Science Foundation. Good luck to all on your summer research!

2023 Graduates and Awards

Congratulations to all of our graduates and award winners for 2023! The university celebrated on campus last week with graduation cookout and then this week we held commencement at the University of Notre Dame. What a joy it is that our graduating class and guests are too big of a crowd for our campus. A few of our department awards have been renamed, particularly the freshman achievement award that started as the CRC Press Chemistry Achievement Award because the Chemical Rubber Company (CRC) provided the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics as the gift. The freshman award is now a cash gift funded by the IU South Bend Chemistry Department Fund (as are several other awards*) in honor of retired laboratory director, Ms. Connie Fox, who has been instrumental in the freshman year of our chemistry program for decades.

Constance J. Fox Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award*
   Kristen Miller
   Mackenzie Reasor
Analytical Chemistry Achievement Award*
   Elizabeth Pask
Organic Chemistry Achievement Award*
   Hannah Gregor
Senior Excellence Award in Biochemistry*
   Rachel Hall
Senior Excellence Award in Chemistry*
   Elizabeth Pask
Joseph H. Ross Award for Outstanding Oral Presentations
   Shaun Calhoun
   Precious-Gold Akpadija
   Emily Barrera
Gretchen Anderson Pathways Scholarship
   Hannah Gregor
   Machenzie Reasor
   Nikki Sweet
Carolyn & Lawrence Garber Summer Research Scholarship
   Zahra Aljuboori
   Hannah Gregor

Grace Muna publishes her second article this year

 

Professor Grace Muna is on a roll this spring with the publication of another research article this year. This one is published in the Journal of Analytical Chemistry with student coauthor, Chris Mochel, who graduated with a B.S. Chemistry degree in 2020. Mochel now works locally as a scientist at Eurofins, a water testing company. Their research took many years to complete and describes a simple colorimetric method to detect aminothiols in water samples such as urine. The method relies on aminothiols reducing dissolved Fe[III] to Fe[II] which then complexes between the two nitrogen atoms of the three-ring molecule orthophenanthroline. The iron imparts color to the molecule which indirectly signals the presence of aminothiols: the stronger the color (from light yellow to dark orange) indicates a higher concentration of aminothiols in solution.

A Simple Colorimetric Method for the Detection of Total Aminothiols in Urine. Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 78, 43–48 (2023).

https://doi.org/10.1134/S1061934823010082

Kasey Clear publishes third collaborative article

Professor Kasey Clear published his third article in two years as part of a multi-university team exploring the oxidation of naphthoquinones. The article is titled Redox and Nucleophilic Reactions of Naphthoquinones with Small Thiols and Their Effects on Oxidization of Hydrogen Sulfide to Inorganic and Organic Hydropolysulfides and Thiosulfate and was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Click here for free access. Each year, research seems to get more interdisciplinary and this collaborative work is a good example of this: instead of being full of chemical structures, you'll find diagram after diagram of quantitative data; and instead of standard organic compounds, you'll find an amino acid (cysteine, the thiol), a small peptide (glutathione) - both from the domain of biochemistry - and even hydrogen sulfide which is an inorganic compound. But, don't worry, Clear is still our organic chemist as you can tell if you focus on this portion of the title "Nucleophilic Reactions of Naphthoquinones". Congratulations, Dr. Clear, on another interesting publication.

Biochemistry students present research at Notre Dame

On Monday April 24th, IU South Bend students visited the University of Notre Dame to present their research. The students included members of the Rizk research group and students from the research-based biochemistry laboratory course CHEM-C 486. The students' research is part of an NSF-funded collaboration with professors Dr. Holly Goodson (UND) and Dr. Brandy Fox (St. Martin's University). The work investigates the basis of protein polymerization in living systems with a focus on a viral protein known as PhuZ as a model to better understand how individual proteins come together to form long chains. This behavior is important for many biological processes such as cell division, muscle movement, and cellular transport that occur in higher organisms. The students will continue the collaboration over the summer of 2023 with funding from the Garber Fellowship and the LSAMP program. Our biochemistry majors gave an excellent presentation highlighting their contribution to the project. Pictured above (left to right) are Zahra Aljuboori, Rachel Hall, Dr. Rizk, Paige Engdahl, and Steven Frye. Biochemistry majors Shaun Calhoun and Ashlei Sonnenberg also contributed to the project but did not present that day.

LSAMP scholars present at national conference

Two LSAMP scholars attended the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) hosted this year by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire from April 13 to 15. Biochemistry major Emily Barrera (on the right) presented her work Electroanalytical Performance of Antimony Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode in Detecting Lead and Cadmium under the supervision of Professor Grace Muna while chemistry major Precious-Gold Akpadija (on the left) showcased her work on the Effect of Guanidinium Content on the Anion Binding Capacity of Polyallyamine-Based Polymer Networks in the lab of Professor Kasey Clear. Both undergraduates presented their work last fall at a state-wide conference so they were well prepared for this national conference last week. The skills that our students develop, and the experience they gain, from their research experience and subsequent presentations (and sometimes publications) will serve them well after graduation, whether that entails further education or employment. Great job!

Students present research at the URC

The annual Undergraduate Research Conference was held yesterday with posters and talks on a variety of subjects from science to literature. Our department was represented by three biochemistry majors: Shaun Calhoun (left), Rachel Hall (middle), and Ashlei Sonnenberg (right). They presented an exciting talk titled The Effect of Mutations on PhuZ Polymerization describing their work this semester in the capstone biochemistry lab course that continues research begun with other students, particularly biochemistry majors Paige Engdahl and Steven Frye, in Professor Shahir Rizk's research lab. [Engdahl and Frye also helped to prepare the presentation, but they did have talking roles that day.] PhuZ is a bacterial protein that polymerizes into long chains that mimics similar structures in our cells, but is much simpler to study. The students introduced mutations into the bacterial genes and measured the effect on the structure and properties of the protein such as the monomer concentration needed to start the polymerization process. The students did an outstanding job presenting their work and answering questions from the audience. In fact, it was later announced that this group of students won the award for the Best Natural Sciences Presentation.

Taylor Boyd-Becker, a chemistry major, had planned to present her poster on the Synthesis of Novel Imidazolium-Urethane Ionic Liquids last summer while supported by an internal SMART grant, but she was not feeling well. This research is a collaborative project between Professor Kasey Clear and Murray State University in Kentucky. We hope you are feeling better today, Taylor!

Faculty present research at two conferences

March was a busy month for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.  Both Dr. Grace Muna (our resident analytical chemist) and Dr. Bonnie Huge (adjunct instructor) attended the annual Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy - commonly known as PittCon - during March 19-21. Muna present work done in collaboration with three undergraduate students on the electroanalytical performance of specially designed electrodes used to detect lead and cadmium in soils and water. Huge, who teaches our CHEM-C 121 lab in the evenings, presented some of her work from the University of Notre Dame - along with a graduate student in her group - where she works full time as a research scientist during the day.

Next was the spring American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting during March 26-30. Muna also attended this conference to present her efforts in merging research projects and coursework. Dr. Kasey Clear (our resident organic chemist) joined her there in Indianapolis to present his work on designing fluorescent molecular probes for a particular class of phospholipids with an inositol sugar attached to the phosphate group. Clear also served as the moderator/presider for the session on Molecular Recognition & Self-Assembly. Joining our two full-time faculty members was another adjunct instructor, Dr. Dave Alonso, who was there to advertise spectroscopy instruments from LECO Corporation and the outreach efforts of their mobile research lab.  Alonso brough the mobile research lab to our camps last semester.

Grace Muna publishes in Electroanalysis

Analytical professor Grace Muna just published a research article titled Electroanalytical Performance of a Bismuth/Antimony Composite Glassy Carbon Electrode in Detecting Lead and Cadmium in the peer-reviewed journal Electroanalysis. You can access the article online by clicking HERE. This article was long in the making and involved many semesters of research by six different undergraduate students. Four of the students were supported by NSF LSAMP grants and two were awarded internal SMART grants. This may be the first article from our department that describes the use of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS or EDX) in which electrons from a scanning electron microscope are fired at a sample to knock core electrons out of atoms in the sample. The electronic holes are then filled as valence electrons "fall" into them and emit X-rays as they do so. The wavelengths of X-rays emitted identify the element of the atoms and thus an EDS spectrum tells us what elements are in a sample and in what proportion. You basically determine the sample's chemical composition.

LSAMP scholars recognized on campus

 

Official campus news has caught up with fall 2022 LSAMP conference in an end-of-February post at www.iusb.edu/news. We had already posted the student participants and their research titles last fall on our site here, but we won't refuse another chance to boast about our students! The picture above, taken by Wendi Chitwood of Indiana University at the conference, shows, from left to right, students Precious-Gold Akpadija (BA chemistry major), Emily Barrera (BS biochemistry major), Hiba Majeed (BS Biological Sciences major), and Marcus Bailey (BS Biological Sciences major).  Precious-Gold Akpadija and Hiba Majeed tied for second place, and the honorable mentions went to Emily Barrera and Marcus Bailey. 

Vice Chancellor McMillen (formerly our department's organic chemist), who attended the conference with the students remarked that the posters were of high quality and said further that “It’s nice that each student can get plenty of individualized attention from faculty members (at IUSB), but one challenge that smaller, regional universities face is that they’re typically working in small research groups."  For more information, please see the full article at www.iusb.edu/news.

Community Outreach: Science Alive

Yesterday, the Biology Chemistry Club participated in the annual Science Alive community outreach event at the Main Branch of the St. Joseph County Public Library. IU students and faculty showcased student-made artwork of bacterial cultures in petri dishes (pictured on the left); let children peer through microscopes at plant, animal, and fossil samples; and offered a hands-on slime/putty-making opportunity using borax and glue. The right picture shows Dr. Ann Grens (Biology) in the back helping a student with a microscope while the foreground shows Dr. Kasey Clear (Chemistry), Rachel Hall (Biochemistry major), and Ellie Gore (Biology major) helping kids make colorful slime. One kid under 10 years old exclaimed "This is the best day of my life!" several times while making slime as she was thoroughly impressed by all of the wonderful activities provided by the many organizations cooperating to make Science Alive a success in the community once again. Thanks to the many student volunteers who gave up time studying for classes for this rewarding, but taxing, effort at inspiring local kids to think and wonder.

The Universe Revealed - Making Sense of Our Senses

At the beginning of the semester (January 10), biochemistry professor Shahir Rizk gave the talk Making Sense of Our Senses: The Art and Science of How We Perceive the World at the Main Branch of the St. Joseph County Library in downtown South Bend. This is just one talk in The Universe Revealed lecture series which is a partnership between the Science faculty at IU South Bend and University of Notre Dame to explore diverse topics in science. Rizk talked about the seeming magic of proteins that, for example, can distinguish different colors of light in our eyes, serve as antifreeze in polar fish, and let fireflies glow in the dark. The artwork above was created by IU South Bend B.S. biochemistry graduate, Maggie Fink, who is now working on her Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame. Fink researched with Rizk while she was an undergraduate and she continues to work with Rizk in their collaborations on the intersection of art and science. At the sites below, you can watch a recording of the lecture and also learn more about the lecture series, in particular the time and subject of upcoming lectures.

Video recording - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFHnZUnOk0g

Lecture series - https://universerevealed.nd.edu/

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go ...

We just ran a Google job search for "chemists" and "biochemists" in a 60-mile radius from South Bend (excluding Illinois) and found over 30 positions available (not including pharmacy jobs and internships). The results were not exhaustive (there are more positions) and some of the positions require experience, or further study, that a fresh graduate would not have. Still, the results look promising:

South Bend, IN
   Tri-Pac                                         
   Catalytic Life Science  
Mishawaka, IN
   InfoSoft                                       
   Siemens Healthineers              
Angola, IN         
   Trine University                         
Elkhart, IN
   Voyant Beauty                            
   Career Transitions, LLC             
   Clean Harbors                          
Plymouth, IN
   BC Forward                                
La Porte, IN
   American Renolit Corportation
   Tradebe Environmental Services
Griffith, IN
   TRADEBE                                     
Portage, IN
   Covanta                                       
   Hire Support                               
   Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories
Hobart, IN
   Eastern Catalytics                      
Hammond, IN
   Clean Harbors                            
Waterloo, IN
   CyberCoders                              
Notre dame, IN
   Saint Mary's College                 
Winona Lake, IN
   Grace College and Seminary   
Valparaiso, IN
   ShoreMet, LLC                            
Kalamazoo, MI
   Bausch & Lomb                          
   Trusted Human Capital            
   EG Workforce Solutions           
   Resume Library                          
   Eurofins USA PSS                       
   Zoetis                                           
Niles, MI
   H B Fuller Company                  
Benton Harbor, MI
   Lake Michigan College              
Stevensville, MI
   Alpha Resources - Michigan    
St. Joseph, MI   
   LECO                                            
Portage, MI
   Eurofins           

Guest speaker from Loyola University

Dr. Colin Gates, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, from Loyola University, Chicago visited our campus last Friday. He spoke to a large group of students from both of the chemistry and biology senior seminar classes and also the physical chemistry class.  The purpose was two-fold: (1) to advertise the M.S. and Ph.D. programs at Loyola University to our graduating seniors, and (2) to let the senior seminar students see a professional seminar to consider points when making their own presentations later in the semester.  Dr. Gates gave a very interesting talk about his research into photosynthesis for a special bacterium with very rapid growth rate.  It was jam-packed with data and experiments new to our students. Loyola University offers full-tuition scholarships and a stipend to all of its Chemistry Ph.D. students (details here). While they do not offer a Ph.D. in Biology, there are competitive awards for the Biology M.S. degree that include tuition and a stipend (details here).