BioScience 113

Dr. Michelle Talal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at Willamette University and an Oxy alumna, class of 2006.

Alpha-synuclein, while infamous in its role in Parkinson's disease, lacks a distinct biological function. Join us in exploring how this chaotic, disordered protein potentially serves as a molecular traffic cop for organelles within the neuron. 

Among the most unmistakable and fascinating dinosaurs were the Thyreophorans - literally “shield bearers” - the armored dinosaurs. Covered in an array of plates, spikes, ridges, and more, these animals have long been understood as being covered with a stiff, bony armor. Our understanding of dinosaur amor fundamentally changed in 2017 with the description of Borealopelta markmitchelli.

Charlotte Chang’s research focuses on social-ecological systems to improve conservation science and practice. Research in the Chang lab examines how different stakeholders interact with the environment, ranging from digital conservation constituencies in different countries to illicit wildlife hunting to managing agroforests to better support habitat specialist taxa. Projects in the lab focus on work with local community leaders, environmental practitioners, and academic colleagues to advance conservation research and application.

Monarch butterflies are well-known for their spectacular migration from North America to Mexico, and for their reliance on milkweeds as their larval host plants. I will present on our research to show how parasitism affects monarch migration, and how monarchs may use medicinal milkweeds to fight their infections.