biological sciences
Research team sorts out drug screen false positive results
Oct. 2, 2019—Vanderbilt investigators have identified 13 previously unknown drug compounds that cause false positive screenings for amphetamines, buprenorphine (an opioid), cannabinoids and methadone.
Faculty named to Chancellor’s Public Voices Fellowship for spring 2020
Sep. 26, 2019—Tony Capra, Lisa Fazio and Renã A.S. Robinson have been selected as Chancellor’s Public Voices Fellows for the spring 2020 semester.
Zebrafish aid effort to regenerate damaged retinas
Sep. 5, 2019—According to a new study, the tiny zebrafish may hold the secret to regenerating damaged retinas in humans.
Rokas to lead budding cross-disciplinary collaboration on evolutionary studies
Aug. 14, 2019—The Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative seeks to position the university as a global leader in evolutionary studies by engaging a large group of scholars who share this research interest.
Team’s study reveals details of new DNA repair pathway
Jul. 25, 2019—Investigators have discovered how a DNA repair pathway protein shields sites of damage to avoid mutations and maintain genome integrity.
I Am Vanderbilt: Jonathan Ertelt
Jul. 16, 2019—The Vanderbilt greenhouses are a lush, light-filled retreat in the heart of campus, and Jonathan Ertelt is charged with making sure each of their inhabitants thrives.
Dean Whittier, professor of biological sciences, emeritus, has died
Jun. 27, 2019—Dean P. Whittier, an emeritus professor of biological sciences at Vanderbilt and an internationally known researcher on the biology of ferns, died May 29. He was 83.
Six new endowed chairs from Medicine, A&S, Owen and Law School honored
May. 3, 2019—Vanderbilt’s six newest endowed chairs were honored by colleagues, university leaders, family members and donors at a ceremony on April 30 in the Student Life Center.
Yohn named Postdoc of the Year at annual symposium; Sappington named Mentor of the Year
Apr. 22, 2019—Postdoctoral scholars Samantha Yohn and Anneke Sanders and ophthalmology professor Rebecca Sappington were honored by the Graduate School at the 13th Annual Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association Symposium on April 9.
Graduate student condenses energy research to take top prize at Three Minute Thesis competition
Apr. 5, 2019—For the seventh straight year, Vanderbilt graduate students competed March 29 to summarize years of research and discovery into a clear three-minute presentation as part of the annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.
How attracting multiple mates affects flirting fads in birds
Feb. 22, 2019—For many species, extravagant displays are a critical part of attracting a mate. Think of a peacock’s long tail or a songbird’s elaborate melody. When considering these populations, scientists at Vanderbilt University wondered if they could use new methods to test a theory that has been around for almost 150 years: that having multiple reproductive...
Rokas elected to American Academy of Microbiology
Feb. 6, 2019—Antonis Rokas, who holds the Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Biological Sciences, has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. He was among the 109 new fellows welcomed by the academy in 2019.