E-Nouncements - September 2024

Dr. David Bertolatus: What’s in a creek? Place-based research experiences integrated across multiple STEM courses.

Assistant Professor of Biology
School of Science, Mathematics, and Technology
Adams State University

Date: September 20th
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Where: North Classroom, Rm 1604

Ali Alghamdi, a PhD student in Dr. Tomback’s lab, has been elected as Student Representative for the Ecological Society of America's Vegetation Section. In this role, Ali will serve as a liaison between student members and the professional ecological community, advocating for student interests and enhancing networking opportunities within the field of vegetation ecology. Ali is doing research on natural regeneration and the impacts of degradation in forest communities in Yellowstone National Park and is interested in restoration ecology for degraded aridland systems.

Two Integrative Biology students won best presentation awards during the 2024 American Arachnological Society meeting in Chetumal, Mexico, state of Quintana Roo.

Congratulations to Goran Shikak for winning best poster presentation for, “Comparing ethanol rehydration techniques: effects on spider morphology and DNA integrity”

Congratulations to Ryan Jones for receiving the runner up award for his oral presentation, “The biogeography and diversity of the North American solifuge family Eremobatidae”

Joseph Tucker, PhD Student in Dr. Alan Vajda's lab, was 1 of 13 students from the US and other countries to attend the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Hazards and Opportunities (ECHO) course in Woods Hole, MA for a 2-week intensive lecture and lab based course in May.

Joseph also spent June-August in Cape Cod, MA completing a 6-week field experiment with Dr. Vajda using mobile laboratories to expose fathead minnows to a complex mixture of PFAS chemicals to assess the uptake and effects.

Lastly, best of luck to Joseph as he prepares for his comprehensive exam on September 19th!

Drs. Paul Le and Laurel Hartley led a Maymester Field Studies Class in Belize.

Students volunteered at the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, toured Mayan Ruins, canoed and saw wildlife on the Macal River, went cave tubing, rode horses through the jungle, and spent days snorkeling, sea kayaking, and learning about the barrier reef ecosystem. Studies included the physical environment, biotic and abiotic interactions, life history, ecological adaptations and biogeography of the specified ecosystem with an emphasis on field identification of vascular plants and vertebrate animals. 

Biology faculty and students were hard at work researching over the summer! Click the links to learn more: 

Dr. Laurel Hartley: Patterns in tree squirrel co-occurrence vary with responses to local land cover in US cities

Dr. Mike Moore: Heat-absorbing sexual coloration co-adapts with increased heat tolerance in dragonflies 

                  Human-modified habitats imperil ornamented dragonflies less than their non-ornamented counterparts at local, regional, and continental scales

Dr. Greg Ragland: Seasonality of forest insects: why diapause matters

Dr. Alan Vajda: Bioconcentration of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Precursors in Fathead Minnow Tissues Environmentally Exposed to Aqueous Film-Forming Foam-Contaminated Waters

Wednesday, Sep 11th @ 10:00am - 12:00pm

Location: Student Commons 2504

Come take a free professional headshot and learn how to create a LinkedIn and Handshake profile in conjunction with American Indian Services and Career Services.

Wednesday, Sep 11th @ 11:00am - 1:00pm

Location: LynxConnect

Have questions about undergraduate research and creative activities at CU Denver? Come by LynxConnect to chat with an URCA advisor in-person every Wednesday from 11-1! No reservation needed. Email undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu or call 303-315-400 with questions.

• These hours don’t work for you? Book an individual advising appointment through Handshake .

Hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

The URCA Office is in LynxConnect within the Tivoli Annex (above the Comcast Media and Technology Center). The easiest way to reach us is through the courtyard outside of iPie, which is accessible from Walnut Street (across from the Tivoli Garage). View a map and video to find us here. 

Wednesday, Sep 11th @ 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Incorporating Open Educational Resources (OER) into your courses benefits both you and your students. For your students, OER dramatically lowers the cost of course materials. For you, OER provides flexibility in terms of content.

Come learn from some of the Auraria Campus’s most knowledgeable OER advocates: Dr. Ronica Rooks (Health & Behavioral Sciences, CU Denver), Deborah Bumbie-Chi (Auraria Library), and Sara Satkowiak (Auraria Library).

This session will cover the basics of OER, including:

• What OER is, and major concepts within OER
• How OER supports both students and faculty
• Examples of OER created on our campus
• How to find funding to support your OER projects

Questions? Contact the CFDA at cfda@ucdenver.edu

Register

Join us on September 12 for a vibrant program that seamlessly blends the sciences, humanities, and healthcare, as CLAS MixTape proudly presents "The Cadence of Care."

This event features an exciting lineup of presentations showcasing impactful work from the CLAS community, all centered on the crucial intersections among health, medicine, and the liberal arts and sciences.

WHEN: Thursday, September 12
TIME: 11:00am - 12:15pm
WHERE: Lawrence St Center, Terrace Room (Second Floor), 1380 Lawrence Street
FEATURING: Erin Austin, Nikketa Burges, Kari Campeau, and Karen Spencer, with special guests

CAN’T JOIN IN PERSON? Zoom in at: https://ucdenver.zoom.us/j/91272316792

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Whether you're passionate about healthcare, curious about medical research, or eager to learn about the remarkable work happening in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS), this is a program you won’t want to miss.

The event is free and open to all—faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community members.

Register

Monday, Sep 16th @ 8:00am - 2:00pm

Location: Elliman Conference Center

Join us as we aim to elevate the Latine experience on the Anschutz campus. This will be an inspiring and transformative day as we engage in conversations about excellence in serving Latine students, faculty, staff and community partners.

Register

Monday, Sep 16th @ 11:00am - 1:00pm

Location: St. Cajetan's Church

Celebrate the start of Hispanic Heritage Month with us! This is a celebration of the Latinx culture, cuisine, music, art, community, and more at the University of Colorado Denver and the Auraria Campus.

Tuesday, Sep 17th @ 3:00pm - 3:45pm

Location: Tivoli Student Union, LynxConnect (Suite 439)

Want to learn more about undergraduate research or creative activities and how to get involved at CU Denver and Anschutz? Not sure where to get started with the fellowship and grant process to fund your projects? This interactive workshop will cover the basics of what undergraduate research is, what types of projects our students are involved in, how to search for a position or reach out to faculty, and next steps to get started with grant and fellowship applications.

Hybrid info session, register for Zoom link or join in-person in LynxConnect.

Call 303-315-4000 or email undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu with questions.

Contact information: Liz Evans

Wednesday, Sep 18th @ 11:00am - 1:00pm

Location: LynxConnect

Have questions about undergraduate research and creative activities at CU Denver? Come by LynxConnect to chat with an URCA advisor in-person every Wednesday from 11-1! No reservation needed. Email undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu or call 303-315-400 with questions.

• These hours don’t work for you? Book an individual advising appointment through Handshake .

Hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

The URCA Office is in LynxConnect within the Tivoli Annex (above the Comcast Media and Technology Center). The easiest way to reach us is through the courtyard outside of iPie, which is accessible from Walnut Street (across from the Tivoli Garage). View a map and video to find us here. 

Thursday, Sep 19th @ 9:00am - 9:45am

In our ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and accessible learning environment, the university has adopted a powerful new tool – Anthology Ally. This training session is crafted to empower instructors with the knowledge and skills needed to harness the full potential of Anthology Ally in enhancing the accessibility of their online courses.

Specifically, it provides instructors time to ask questions, understand Ally from a student’s perspective, gather helpful resources and learn new accessibility tricks for creating new course content. 

Please register for this event on the TIPS website: https://cu-tips.corsizio.com/event/6627d206bb1a2115c073608d

Thursday, Sep 19th @ 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Location: Learning Commons 2230

Join professors for free pizza (while supplies last!) and conversation about their research and ways students can get involved in researching as undergraduate students!

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Workshop

Friday, September 20
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Tivoli 640 Zenith
Refreshments provided

Sign up by September 16

The Office of Advancement invites all faculty and staff to participate in an upcoming workshop that can help you become more skilled, comfortable – and ultimately more successful – in raising philanthropic support for your programs.  We have developed this workshop, which is specific to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in partnership with Marts & Lundy, one of the world’s leading fundraising consulting firms. After attending this session you will:

• Understand how a comprehensive campaign progresses
• Learn how to partner successfully with Advancement 
• Become familiar with the resources we can provide
• Learn how to create a compelling case for your programs
• Feel empowered to act on fundraising opportunities

Friday, Sep 20th @ 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Location: Learning Commons, Room 3207, Rush Conference Room

TOPIC: University Resources & Researcher Responsibilities

Monday, Sep 23rd @ 9:00am - 10:30am

Location: Lawrence Street Building, Terrace Room

Updates from Antonio Farias the Office for DEI and a special presentation about Psychological Safety.

Register

Thursday, Sep 26th @ 10:00am - 2:00pm

Location: Lola and Rob Salazar Student Wellness Center

Get ready to connect with nearly 90 employers who will be joining us on campus. From renowned corporations to dynamic startups, there’s something for everyone seeking to embark on their professional journey.

Whether you’re exploring internship opportunities or seeking full-time employment, this fair promises to be a gateway to endless possibilities. Don’t miss out on the chance to network, learn, and grow.

Register