Biology

Biology Highlights

<div class="lw_blurbs_body"><p class="intro"><img width="611" height="382" alt="" src="/live/image/gid/84/width/611/height/382/38898_eukaryon_2017_crop.png" class="lw_image lw_image38898 lw_align_none lw_block lw_column_width_full"/></p><p class="intro"> Each year, the student-produced research journal <em><a href="http://www.lakeforest.edu/academics/students/journals/eukaryon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eukaryon</a></em> publishes exceptional research by Lake Forest biology students. A student editorial board comprised of biology students peer reviews, copy edits, and publishes the online journal, which won first prize in the science education session at the 2009 Society of Developmental Biology.</p></div>
<div class="lw_blurbs_body"><p class="intro"><img width="769" height="380" alt="" src="/live/image/gid/84/width/769/height/380/29785_shubhik_debburman.jpg" class="lw_image lw_image29785 lw_align_none lw_column_width_full"/></p><p class="intro"> By studying how cells manipulate proteins, <a href="/academics/faculty/debburman">Professor Shubhik DebBurman</a> and his students hope to better understand why some proteins change shape and cause incurable neurological diseases like Parkinson’s. Many of Professor DebBurman’s students have had the opportunity to co-author publications with him on this research and to turn their lab work into research projects and senior theses.</p></div>
<div class="lw_blurbs_body"><p class="intro"><img width="611" height="299" alt="" src="/live/image/gid/84/width/611/height/299/1092_img_5167.jpg" class="lw_image lw_image1092 lw_align_none" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/84/width/611/height/299/1092_img_5167.jpg 2x"/></p><p class="intro"> Professor <a href="/academics/faculty/kirk">Karen Kirk</a> and computer science major Sylwia Dakowicz ’13 use computers to mine and analyze data of gene sequences for a <a href="/academics/students/richter.php">Richter Scholar</a> research project. Professor Kirk received a <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> grant to identify telomerase RNA in her study of aging, and several biology students will assist with parts of the research, likely leading to their senior theses.</p></div>

Each year, the student-produced research journal Eukaryon publishes exceptional research by Lake Forest biology students. A student editorial board comprised of biology students peer reviews, copy edits, and publishes the online journal, which won first prize in the science education session at the 2009 Society of Developmental Biology.

About Biology at Lake Forest College

Biology majors don’t just learn facts about living things, they learn how to be scientists. This means they can often be found in the lab, actively engaged in research with faculty. Students have exciting opportunities for internships and research at world-class Chicago institutions like the Field Museum, Chicago Botanic Garden, Shedd Aquarium, and Rosalind Franklin University of Medical Sciences. Biology students are well-trained by hypothesis-driven coursework. While a major or minor in biology is great preparation for postgraduate training in academic research or the health professions, our students also become competitive graduates and professionals in industry and fields like environmental policy, education and museum administration.

Department News

Meaningful lab experience after just one semester

Transfer student Philip Freund ’18 has always had an interest in science and is already flexing his research muscles in a medical lab after just one semester at Lake Forest College.
Run, students, run!

Six teams vied for the coveted McPherson Cup at Lake Forest College’s 4th Annual Plate Race on July 13.
Peter Nesper ’15: Prolific researcher, writer

Peter Nesper ’15, a clinical research associate at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, has achieved a remarkable and rare accomplishment. Since August 2016, he has published 15 research articles and is the lead author on three.
Three alums now MDs

Three Lake Forest College alumni just received their MD degrees at Rosalind Franklin University Medical School: Keith Solvang ’11, Daryn Cass ’10, and Daniella Brutman ’12.
Experience reaps research job—before graduation

With a job lined up as a research assistant at a major university before he graduated, James Haney ’17 will spend his summer backpacking West Coast trails and considering his next move—medical school or becoming a college professor.
Menke talks ant emergence

Associate Professor of Biology Sean Menke was interviewed by WBBM Newsradio about urban ant communities.