Holly Travis Lab at IUP
Dr. Holly Travis, Lead InvestgatorDr. Travis is an Associate Professor of Biology and the Biology Education Coordinator for the secondary certification program at IUP. She received her D.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction at IUP (2007), MS in Biology at IUP (2003), and BS in Animal Science at Cornell University (1982). She teaches field biology courses such as Dendrology, Spring Flora, and Pteridophytes, secondary science education Methods and Pre-student teaching courses, the life science content course for elementary education majors, and introductory biology courses for both majors and non-majors. She has served as the Science Coordinator and Field Science instructor for the IUP Upward Bound Math and Science initiative since its inception, and does science outreach programs for schools and camp programs throughout the region, where she is also known as the "Bug Lady."
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Erin Janetski, Graduate StudentErin is a second-year graduate student working towards a M.S. in Biology with Initial Certification. She received her B.S. in Natural Resources Management from Grand Valley State University. Erin’s project is entitled, “Development of a citizen science stream monitoring program for western Pennsylvania high school students and its effects on student learning.” She has received multiple grants including the PA DEP Environmental Education Grant ($3000), IUP Biology Research Grant ($1000), IUP Smythe Award ($500), and the IUP Award for Excellence ($100). Erin works as Temporary Faculty in the Biology Department at IUP, and has volunteered for local environmental education organizations such as Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center, The Evergreen Conservancy, and Friends of Yellow Creek. Originally from Holland, Michigan, she now resides in Indiana, PA, with her husband and two children.
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Emily Hixson, Graduate StudentScience is awesome! Emily loves it so much that not only does she teach Biology and Environmental Science at Indiana Area High School, she is a student of Biology too. There is always something new and fascinating to learn and the more she learns the more she realizes that she's just scratching the surface. Her enthusiasm is contagious! She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology Education at IUP and then went to work teaching. She earned a Masters Degree in Science Education at Clarion University and is currently seeking a second Masters Degree in Biology.
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Kayley Altemus, Graduate Student
Kayley is a graduate student earning her MS in Biology and her certification in secondary Biology. Her research focuses on a comparison of two green roof drainage systems, and the impact of educational experiences based on her project on student attitudes about science. |
Jen Graham, Graduate StudentJen is a graduate student working with soil microarthropods. She earned her BS in Biology/Pre-med at IUP, and is currently nearing completion of her MS in Biology, which she hopes to finish up in December 2016. Her research topic is "A Comparison of Soil Microarthropods from Different Tree Species and Planting Dates at a National Park Service Reforestation Site", using samples she collected from the Flight 93 Memorial location in Shanksville, PA. She is a member of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority.
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Jessica Vallee-Vasquez, Undergraduate Biology Honors Student (Graduated May 2017, pursuing her MS at Chatham University)Jess is a New Jersey native currently in her third year of Green Roof research. She is completing her BS in Biology, in the Ecology, Conservation, and Environmental Biology track, with a minor in Sustainability Studies, and will graduate in May 2017. She is also completing the Biology Honors program. She has focused her research on native flowering plants that can survive in a green roof setting, with a special emphasis on Joe Pye-weed, one of her favorite native wildflowers. She is also active in SEEDS club, the treasurer and fundraising chair of Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda and IUP's ASSE.
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Jenn Greiner, Undergraduate Biology Honors Student (Graduated May 2017)Jenn is a senior from Maryland, currently in her second year of Green Roof research. She has focused her research on Urban Gardening, comparing various vegetable varieties, including beans, corn, sunflowers, tomatoes, and cucumbers, to see what characteristics are most valuable for surviving and producing food crops in a challenging rooftop environment. She is completing her BS in Biology with a Psychology minor, is in the Biology Honors program, and is a member of Tri Beta, the biology honor society.
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