鈥淭hese shorebirds are important, but it鈥檚 just as important to know which areas need to be monitored and protected to support the horseshoe crabs,鈥� Witters says. 鈥淚f we lose the habitat and areas they use to breed and lay eggs, it will be hard to get that habitat back and keep the populations sustained.鈥�

As a nationally recognized聽high-research university,聽麻豆传媒在线 gives students early access to faculty-led projects, which allowed Witters to join a lab in her first year and keep building her research skills in one continuous five-year path.

That early start is built into 麻豆传媒在线鈥檚 academic model:聽麻豆传媒在线 offers more combined programs聽than any other institution in New Jersey, giving students a head start on graduate study and careers. For Witters, that has meant not just upper-level science courses, but real ownership of a research question and presenting her findings at scientific conferences.

Read the full article on the University Press Room.

Darwin鈥檚 theory of evolution by natural selection transformed biology by demonstrating how species adapt and change over time. More than 150 years later, his ideas continue to shape research across various disciplines, making Darwin Day a fitting tribute to the ongoing pursuit of knowledge.

Eric Wieschaus during his lecture at the first Darwin Day

麻豆传媒在线鈥檚 first Darwin Day symposium set an ambitious tone by welcoming Nobel Laureate Eric Wieschaus. His groundbreaking work on the genetic control of embryonic development reshaped modern biology and his presence established the event鈥檚 tradition of bringing world-class scientists to campus.

This year鈥檚 keynote speaker, Bruce Carlson, PhD, explored how weakly electric fish distinguish between sensations they create themselves and those coming from the outside world. Studying these fish that communicate using brief electric pulses, Dr. Carlson explained how the brain sends an internal signal at the exact moment a fish produces its own pulse. This signal temporarily quiets certain neurons, preventing the fish from confusing its own signal with one from another fish. His research shows that this precise timing adapted over evolutionary, developmental, and even seasonal changes!

Bruce Carlson, this year’s keynote speaker

As always, student research remained central to the celebration. Noah Ramadan, Kelly Witters, and Rylee Allen presented their work, demonstrating the depth and diversity of scholarship within the university.

From left: Rylee Allen, Dr. Paul Bologna and Kelly Witters

For Kelly Witters, a student in 麻豆传媒在线鈥檚 combined five-year BS/MS program in Marine Biology and Coastal Science and a two-year recipient of the Wehner Scholarship, presenting at Darwin Day was both meaningful and motivating. The scholarship allowed her to pursue research on horseshoe crabs, a passion that began with a third-grade school project. It also provided opportunities to participate in conferences, strengthening her skills as a scientist. She shared how opportunities to present are especially valuable as she prepares for her thesis defense, helping her build confidence and refine her communication skills. Reflecting on her journey, she described 麻豆传媒在线 as the best decision I made, crediting her mentor, Dr. Paul Bologna, and the Wehner Scholarship, for opening doors that will shape her future.

This event marked President Koppell鈥檚 first introduction to HOSA, and he was pleasantly surprised by the range of opportunities the organization provides not only to pre-med students but to all students interested in healthcare. Before leaving, he gave attendees an inspiring message about what it means to be a first-generation student pursuing a healthcare career at 麻豆传媒在线. The event had over 70 students in attendance, making it one of HOSA鈥檚 largest turnouts so far!

The club was then joined by our five panelist, Fatema (Physician Assistant), Jessie (Occupational Therapist), Katherine (Medical Student at Hackensack Meridian School and 麻豆传媒在线 Alumni), Jenna (Dental Student at Touro Medical School and MSU Alumni), and Faria (Medical Student at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine). Each panelist spoke about their journey to and through graduate school, sharing personal experiences, challenges, and the advice they wished they had known as undergraduates. Their insight offered students a realistic and motivating look into the healthcare field, sparking meaningful questions and conversations among attendees.

Afterwards, HOSA hosted an MCAT, DAT, and GRE giveaway for all members who attended. The organization awarded 10 MCAT prep bundles (each set included 7 books), 4 DAT prep books, and 4 GRE vocabulary flashcard sets, co-sponsored by the Pre-Medical & Pre-Health Program. Last but not least, attendees heard from Charlotte Cuss Bracchitta, Director of the Pre-Medical & Pre-Health Program, who explained the pre-health advising support offered on campus for all healthcare fields and shared that those who attended today will receive an advising session in addition to free MCAT, DAT, or GRE resources depending on their pathway. Therefore, guaranteeing that each student in attendance won free test prep resources!

From Left: Nour Shalash, Fahmida Murahed, Esteban Ocana, Chelsea Sanchez, Emily Arcos, Aleyna Uslu, PMP Director Charlotte Cuss Bracchitta

MCAT, DAT, and GRE giveaways, co-sponsored by the Pre-Medical & Pre-Health Program, along with several of HOSA鈥檚 medals from state competitions and our Standards of Excellence trophy, which was awarded to us in our first year and recognizes 麻豆传媒在线 HOSA as the most active collegiate organization in New Jersey.

The Health Occupations Students of America Club extends its deepest gratitude to all members, panelists, President Koppell, and the Pre-Medical & Pre-Health Program for their collaboration and support. HOSA looks forward to hosting more events in the future and returning even stronger next semester. Congratulations again to our giveaway winners, and thank you to everyone who attended!

Our E-Board and I have worked hard all semester to make sure this panel was successful. We wanted to make sure that we ended this semester off with a bang and pave the way for future opportunities similar to this.

When a roadway intersects with a river or a stream, a lot of times, the people who build that road don鈥檛 realize that this waterway or the mud nearby is where many reptiles and amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders, live, and when they surface to seek drier ground in the spring, they can鈥檛 just jump over the pavement. You end up with terrible mortality rates.

Dr. Wu serves as New Jersey鈥檚 liaison for the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative, a network of academics, nonprofit environmentalists and government officials across a 13-state region stretching from Maine to West Virginia.

The success of the Bedminster project spurred the DEP to devise a similar setup in 2019 at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in western Monmouth County. The trio of tunnels in Upper Freehold Township include one stream culvert that was widened to accommodate the addition of a dry shelf allowing wildlife to cross Route 539, and two more brand-new underground corridors linking the drainage channels on either side of the road. As with the Bedminster tunnels, fencing at each end steers the animals away from the pavement above and toward the lifesaving passageways.

You also want to make sure to check yourself, your kiddos, and your pets when spending time outdoors, making sure you get your scalp, behind your ears, armpits, groin, belly button, and behind your knees. And hop in the shower after a hike or camping trip, to further ensure they鈥檙e off.

A tick searching for a place to bite is much easier to remove than a tick that has already started feeding. So check for ticks frequently during hikes or whenever spending an extended amount of time outdoors.

Dr. Paul Bologna said these gelatinous animals are commonly found across the Jersey Shore during the warmer months.

Jellyfish are about 95% water and are simple creatures, lacking a heart, brain and blood, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Yet these animals are successful predators, feeding on sea creatures like plankton, small crustaceans, fish eggs and larvae, Bologna said. As jellyfish get larger, they will consume common bait fish and full-sized fish, he said.

Jellyfish “could be really devastating to fisheries around the world,” said Bologna. “Where you get these big plumes of these guys coming through, they can really knock back fish populations.”