Open House and Research Expo at Claflin University’s Center for Biotechnology is March 21-22

Interested individuals are invited to receive Claflin University graduate school admission information, take laboratory tours, and observe research presentations during the Masters in Biotechnology program’s Open House and Research Expo on March 21-22, 2014.                                        

The theme for this year’s event is “Building a Vision to Inspire Future Researchers.”

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Friday, March 21, in Room 131 of the James S. Thomas Science Center. Dr. Angela Peters, vice provost for academic affairs at Claflin, and Dr. Verlie Tisdale, dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, will open the event at 9 a.m., and the University’s biotechnology graduate students will give oral presentations at 9:30 a.m.

Attendees will then make their way to the Molecular Science Research Center for a tour and research poster showcase featuring work by students in biology, chemistry, engineering and physics, and mathematics and computer science in the MSRC atrium.

Dr. Tyrone B. Hayes of the University of California-Berkeley’s Department of Integrative Biology will deliver the keynote address at 1:30 p.m. in JST Room 131.

Hayes, a native of Columbia, S.C., is known for his research findings that the herbicide atrazine is an endocrine disruptor that feminizes male frogs. The biologist and herpetologist is also an advocate for critical review and regulation of pesticides and other chemicals that may cause adverse health effects. He has presented hundreds of papers, talks and seminars on the role of environmental chemical contaminants in global amphibian declines, and in the health disparities that occur in minority and low-income populations.

Research evaluations will be given following Hayes’ presentation.

On Saturday, March 22, seniors will deliver theses from 9 a.m. to noon. An evaluation process will follow.

Students in Claflin University’s two-year program for a Masters in Biotechnology can choose to specialize in computational biology/bioinformatics, environmental biotechnology, forensic biotechnology or plant biotechnology. For more information about the Biotechnology program’s Open House and Research Expo, contact Nankwanga Cherry at 803-535-5405 or ncherry@claflin.edu.

Also on Saturday, dozens of outstanding Claflin undergraduate students and professors will present research in Ministers’ Hall during the Office of Research’s Research Day. This is the first time that all four of Claflin’s schools will be represented in the display that will spotlight the diverse scholarly endeavors taking place across campus.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. Following opening remarks by Claflin President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, a period of judging will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Dr. Willette S. Burnham, executive director of student programs and student diversity at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, will address the gathering after the judging and prior to an awards ceremony.

For more information about Claflin University and all of its degree-seeking programs, visit www.claflin.edu or www.GoToClaflin.com.