The Evolutionary Studies program has received $211,387 in funding from the National Science Foundation to increase the number of evolution-related curricular offerings and to support undergraduate research projects that apply evolutionary analysis at the college.

Three course proposals were selected to receive support: Kerry Dean Carso (Art History) will develop “Nature and Science in Nineteenth-century American Art”; Alex Bartholomew (Geology) will develop “Evolution of Reefs through Time,” which will include a field excursion to a research site in the Bahamas; and Jed Mayer (English) will work on “Literature and Culture in the Age of Darwin.”

“We are very excited about the breadth of the additional courses that will soon be available to EvoS students and the entire campus,” said Glenn Geher, director of the program.

Recipients will receive a summer salary stipend and guidance through the course submission process.

Additionally, four summer undergraduate research projects will be funded through the National Science Foundation. Jacyln Martin ‘09 (Geology) and Alex Bartholomew (Geology) will explore “The Coordinated Stasis hypothesis with a field investigation of biofacies within the Middle Devonian Hamilton Group.” Rachel Carmen ‘09 (Psychology) and Corwin Senko (Psychology) will investigate “Women’s Attraction to Men with Different Styles of Humor.” Zuchra Zakirova ‘10 (Biology, English) will work with Jeff Reinking (Biology) to answer the question of “When did nuclear receptors evolve the capability to bind heme?” Finally, Jannett Dinsmore ‘09 (Biology) and Aaron Haselton (Biology) will study the “Effect of Dietary Restriction on Fruit Fly Stress Resistance Responses.”

The faculty and student members will receive a supply budget, a stipend for their efforts over the five-week period, and the students will also receive a cost-of-living allowance.

For more information about these programs, visit the Evolutionary Studies Web site at www.newpaltz.edu/EvoS.

Tags: Evolutionary Studies, funding, National Science Foundation

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